BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Bacolod and three other cities in the Philippines were chosen as case study sites to capacitate local government units in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and coping with the new normal.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he, along with the chief executives of Muntinlupa, Baguio, and Iligan cities, attended an orientation yesterday on the introduction of the project and details of the engagement.
Leonardia said the city government is grateful for this rare chance for Bacolod to avail of the expertise of these people in handling public health emergencies.
He said that whatever Bacolod will learn from them will greatly help in the city’s fight against Covid-19 effectively.
DILG, DOH, UNICEF INVOLVED
The project, dubbed “Planning for Greater Resiliency, Addressing Pandemics/ Biohazards and Public Health Emergencies and Its Impacts to Most At-Risk Populations”, is a corroborative effort of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund.
It aims to support efforts in strengthening the capabilities of local governments in coping with the new normal, mitigate and address impacts of Covid-19, particularly on the vulnerable sectors, and plan for similar emergencies that may occur in the future.
It also aims to review existing LGU-related planning policies and procedures to assess their relevance and effectiveness in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.
Once the project is completed, the agencies will recommend an LGU planning framework that integrates Philippine health emergency with measures in reducing vulnerability and mitigating risks of health pandemics against the vulnerable and affected groups. The Planning and Development Research Foundation Inc. will support the undertaking by conducting case studies on selected LGUs to provide in-depth scoping of experiences, sector resources, capacity issues, and innovations within the purview of expected LGU roles set out by national policies for Covid-19 response and management.*
