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LGUs, jail facilities to receive P6.5-M COVID-response aid from GSIS
LGUs, jail facilities to receive P6.5-M COVID-response aid from GSIS
By Chito Chavez
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday that 16 local isolation and treatment areas in selected local government units (LGUs) and jail facilities in the country will receive some P6.5-million under the “Adopt a Ligtas (Safe) COVID Center’’ program of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said 16 Local Isolation and General Treatment Areas for COVID-19 (LIGTAS COVID) Centers nationwide will each receive P500,000 in assistance as part of the GSIS’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
“The DILG greatly appreciates the generous contribution of the GSIS to the efforts of the LGUs and the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) in stopping the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus,” said Malaya.
With the support, Malaya said the recipient LIGTAS centers will serve more “keeping in mind the BIDA ang May Disiplina minimum health standards promoted by the DILG and DOH, in tandem with the contact tracers hired by the department.”
The program pushed through after GSIS recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DILG, LGUs, and the BJMP for the provision of P500,000 to each of the 16 recipient Ligtas COVID centers.
Of the 16 recipient COVID-19 Ligtas Centers, Malaya said one is in Cagayan Valley; one in Central Visayas; two in Central Luzon, two in CALABARZON, two Northern Mindanao; and five from the National Capital Region (NCR).
The remaining three are BJMP facilities in New Quezon City Jail, the New San Fernando City Jail in Pampanga, and the Zamboanga City Jail.
Malaya explained that the P500,000 allocation per Ligtas COVID Center will be used to beef up the much needed medical supplies, isolation facilities, procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other needs of these centers.
“In behalf of the DILG, and the LGU beneficiaries, I would like to thank the GSIS led by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta and GSIS President and CEO Rolando Macasaet for their Christmas gift to our modern day heroes. I urge all the beneficiaries to make good use of the GSIS donation. Use it wisely and prudently showing good examples that you indeed deserve such support,” Malaya said.
Malaya noted that he hopes that the GSIS donation to the Ligtas COVID Centers will further ignite the dedication of Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) pursuant to DILG and Department of Health (DOH) Joint Administrative Order 2020-0001.
“Per JAO 2020-0001, the overall strategy against COVID-19 is community-mobilized active contact tracing, testing, isolation, and monitoring. At the same time, health service providers continue to provide individuals with basic health services, including vaccinations,’’ the DILG said.
Malaya said the DILG is grateful that many national government agencies have extended their financial and technical support to the LGUs nationwide, recognizing the importance of aligning local disease prevention and control with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) directives.
He also commended the provincial governments for establishing their LIGTAS COVID centers and the city/municipal governments for managing these centers, allocating budget for the compensation, board, and lodging to their staff.
"However, the fight is not yet won, not yet as the dreaded second wave is just around the corner. I urge all of you to renew the culture of discipline, and to continue being the matitino (righteous), mahuhusay (smart), at maaasahang (and trustworthy) public servants,” Malaya ended.