BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Grupo Progreso candidates Em Ang and Dr. Chris Sorongon, who are both running for councilor, will continue to serve in the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force despite the start of the local campaign period in Bacolod City.
Ang and Sorongon, EOC-TF executive director and deputy for medical and data analysis, respectively, are both rendering volunteer service in the EOC.
Ang said the EOC vaccination program in major malls in Bacolod will continue during the campaign period despite the fact that the city has already reached its target population.
But they will be adding Barangay Resbakuna Centers to bring the vaccination program to the barangays so their constituents don’t have to go to the malls, she said during an earlier interview.
Sorongon said they also have tasked vaccinators in the city’s mobile vaccination buses to bring the program down to the purok level and haciendas in order to cater to those who have not yet received their booster shots including children in the 5 to11 and the 12 to 17 age groups.
He said Councilor Renecito Novero is already coordinating with the schools under the Department of Education especially for those who have already signified their intention to hold limited face-to-face-classes.
They have also coordinated with the private schools who have also signified their intention to hold limited face-to-face classes so they can at least intensify their vaccination program for 12 to 17 and 5 to 11 age groups, Sorongon said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Ang have recommended that they maximize their mobile vaccination in order to bring the vaccination center closer to the people of Bacolod, he said.
Meanwhile, Sorongon had said that the EOC is also composed of Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan and Dr. Rosalie Deocampo, while acting City Health Officer Dr. Edwin Miraflores is also hands-on in the city vaccination program and has been involved in the EOC since the start of the pandemic.
Leonardia, on the other hand, also gave credit to the city officials who have helped during the height of the pandemic and for their contribution in the de-escalation of Bacolod’s alert level status to Alert Level 1.
He cited Familiaran’s dedication and commitment as head of the local Inter-Agency Task Force, Novero for providing 2,000 beds in the city’s quarantine centers, Councilor Dindo Ramos who was incharge of transportation during the lockdown, Councilor Cindy Rojas for catering to about 100,000 locally stranded individuals and Councilor Israel Salanga for serving 15,000 overseas Filipino workers.
Leonardia also gave credit to Councilor Archie Baribar who was in charge of the committee for the city’s transition and preparation to post COVID days and for helping review all executive orders, Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez for being their liason in Manila, broadcaster Marlon Solidum and Ed Guillem for providing the logistics, former barangay captain Jonathan Diaz for providing assistance to their constituents, Ang and Sorongon for their dedication in the EOC, as well as Councilors Lady Gles Pallen and Ayesha Villafor who were in charge of authorized persons outside of residence (APORs).*
