BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The presidents of the major market associations, the Manokan Country and flower vendors in Bacolod City expressed their support to the October 10 surveillance testing to be conducted in the three public markets in the city.
The leaders of the market associations and vendors signed yesterday a manifest of acceptance and support to surveillance testing acknowledging that it will be for their own good, for their families and the market-goers in Bacolod.
In their manifest, the leaders of the Burgos, Central and Libertad Markets, Manokan Country and Bacolod City Flower Vendors Association, said they are extending their support and cooperation to the surveillance testing of the city government in its fight against the coronavirus disease.
They are appealing to the government to ensure that they and their families will be provided assistance and immediate attention as a consequence of the surveillance testing.
The market vendors also called on their fellow vendors and the people of Bacolod for their cooperation and support by doing their part in defeating the “unseen but deadly enemy” which is COVID-19.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Department of Health 7 chief pathologist, said the surveillance testing they conducted in Carbon Market Cebu was very successful and the market vendors were pro-actively involved.
Loreche said their objective in conducting surveillance testing is to determine how many market vendors are positive for COVID-19 and if public health measures are well implemented.
“This is to protect our families, our communities, our loved ones and ourselves,” she said.
The pool sampling will be conducted on a batch of five and this will help the city conserve resources because the five vendors will be tested as singular sample. The testing they conducted in Cebu was done by zoning, Loreche said.
Dr. Chris Sorogon, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Deputy for Medical, said that, based on information gathered by contact tracers, public areas like the markets could be a source of COVID-19.
They have conducted consultations in the markets regarding the advantages of surveillance testing and assured that those who test positive will be taken care of by the city and their families will be provided food assistance, he said.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, during a virtual press conference, said Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran reported to him that the dialog he held yesterday with the market vendors of Libertad Market ended positively.
Familiaran also met with the market vendors of Burgos Market earlier this week to answer some concerns about the surveillance testing.
Leonardia is asking for the cooperation of everyone, including their political detractors. in the fight against COVID-19. “We have no choice but to cooperate and support each other,” he said.
If they have any agenda, especially those who have political motivation, they should wait for this pandemic to be over, the mayor said.*CGS
