Impose social distancing, health rules during aid distribution, ‘NCR Plus’ LGUs told

A resident of Baseco, Tondo, in Manila City on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, shows the financial assistance she received from the government, which extended the (ECQ) enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces from April 5-11, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region. Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday enjoined all local chief executives in the “NCR Plus” bubble to strictly enforce basic health protocols such as wearing face masks and social distancing during distribution of aid.

In a memorandum dated April 12, DILG said it received reports that a number of local government units (LGUs) have failed to implement basic health rules during the distribution of cash and in-kind assistance to constituents.

It noted that aid distribution events were usually “crowded and the failure to observe proper social distancing is evident.”

“This Department hereby reminds the concerned local chief executives to ensure that the basic health protocols such as the wearing of masks and face shields and proper social distancing are strictly followed during the distribution of assistance,” the DILG memorandum read.

DILG then encouraged LGUs to use spacious and open areas as venues and adopt a systematic schedule for the beneficiaries to claim their assistance to lessen the volume of people going to distribution areas.

Aside from implementing basic health protocols, DILG also reminded LGUs to conduct proper profiling of suspected, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases in their localities and make sure they are properly isolated.

LGUs should also regularly check and survey those who are under quarantine/isolation, especially those in their homes, to ensure the 14-day quarantine of people exposed to COVID-19-positive individuals and 10-day isolation of asymptomatic COVID-infected patients are completed.

DILG further directed local governments to conduct proper and prompt contact tracing.

LGUs should also provide that the referral mechanism of treatment facilities is well-coordinated and support is adequate. They should also make sure there are sufficient numbers of COVID-19 dedicated beds, complementary health human resources, and well-organized triage and referral systems are in place at their respective health facilities, DILG added.

KGA