CEBU CITY – Encouragements and praises poured in for the 50 medical workers from Cebu who answered the call to help reinforce the government's COVID-19 response in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The 11 doctors, 35 nurses and four medical technologists on Wednesday left for Manila where they will be staying for the next three months.
In a send-off ceremony hours before their departure at the Montebello Hotel, local officials took turn praising the medical health workers from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7).
Sec. Michael Lloyd Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) asked the medical workers not to be easily discouraged by the challenges brought about by their mission to help address the increasing COVID-19 cases in NCR.
"Don't expect it's going to be a bed of roses. It is going to be a war. It's going to be a difficult three months but I know you're ready," said Dino.
Dino assured that the medical workers will be provided with the needed assistance.
"If you have a problem, let us know. OPAV will take care of you," said Dino.
Dino announced that each medical worker will receive P5,000 each per month from OPAV.
Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella likewise pledged to extend cash allowance to the medical workers.
During the three-month stay in NCR, Garcia said the province will give a monthly allowance of P5,000 to each medical worker. Upon returning home, each medical worker will receive an additional P10,000.
The province will also give vitamins and air purifiers to the medical workers.
Cebu City councilor Raymond Garcia, majority floor leader and chairman of the City Council's budget and finance committee, announced that the city will give a monthly allowance of P10,000 to each medical worker.
"We hope that this (cash allowance) will bring more encouragement in your noble mission. We are sending you to NCR as COVID warriors because we don't want this virus to succeed. You will be the ones to defeat this virus," said Governor Garcia.
Labella, on the other hand, said that if needed, the city will provide more assistance to the medical workers.
"We will do whatever is possible so we could be of help," said Labella.