In Baguio city, discipline and cooperation are alive

Published May 10, 2020, 9:19 AM

As one of top tourist destinations in the country, Baguio city has been directly hit by Covid-19 crisis since the first local case was confirmed. Panagbenga Flower Festival is postponed and with the implementation of enhanced community quarantine the local art scene also suffers. In spite of these domino effects, these didn’t serve as a hindrance for the country’s first Creative City, as awarded by UNESCO to set a good example in fighting this pandemic. 

On social media, netizens are lauding Baguio city for its people’s discipline from strictly practicing social distancing, following ECQ curfew hours to police officers’ peaceful approach to every citizen. In a conversation with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Baguio city Mayor Benjamin Magalong shares the secret behind this commendable discipline and what are the challenges the city is facing people couldn’t see online. 

Peaceful approach

According to Mayor Magalong, the LGU is thankful that the city’s residents are naturally disciplined and cooperative, because of this, it is easier for them to roll out their programs. “Ang maganda rito sa Baguio madaling pasunurin ang mga tao (What’s good here in Baguio, people are law abiding),” he says. “Highlanders, people from Cordillera, are generally disciplined, they follow the law.” 

Social distancing is strictly followed. Policemen patrolling the city don’t even see the needs to bring firearms, hence, the photos that went viral online. “Hindi mo kailangan ng baril sa pag-impose niyan (You don’t need guns in imposing the law) especially if you’re going to impose orderliness at market and grocery stores,” he continues. “Our police force has their way of escalating intervention. We also have mobile patrols that protects the civilians against criminal elements.”

But Mayor Magalong clarifies that their residents are not perfect. There are still some who violate the law. In this case, he makes sure that this individual will learn his lessons. He shares that there are instances that they put a whole barangay under total lockdown because of a resident’s disobedience. 

“There are some who will violate the rules, but we have to be serious about it. We have to deal with them,” he says. “You have to be firm. Sometimes you have to make a lot of unpopular decisions. This time of crisis, I would rather be feared than respected.” 

Sustain relief operation 

With a population of around 370,000 people, the town mayor says it is a challenge for them to provide the needs of everyone but they are trying their best. With most of his constituents’ livelihood put on hold because of ECQ, he sees to it that relief operation is continues and sustainable. 

“The city is providing food packs to all barangays. We make sure that we cater the needs of different sectors such as senior citizens, PWDs, and stranded students. They are our priority,” he says. The items in each sector’s food pack are different. For regular, it includes three kilos of rice, canned good, and instant noodles. For PWDs and senior citizens, it has additional goods such as vitamins, cereals, and energy drinks. 

“The support we’re giving them should be sustained,” Mayor Maglong says. “We continuously distribute food packs. On the first wave we supplied relief to 26,000 households, on the second wave 35,000 and the number of individuals who needed help are increasing.” 

 Aside from providing food packs, the LGU is thinking ahead of how they can support other sectors once the city transitioned from ECQ to GCQ (general community quarantine. “Initially, we’re producing about P100 million to be able to support the transport sector, business sector, and the creative sector,” he shares. “It’s not enough. We are trying to find P200 million.”

He then discloses that due to pandemic, the city is losing P38 million monthly revenue. In fighting this deadly disease and securing the public health, they are spending around P10 million every week, and still, this is not enough. 

The virus is escalating

Mayor Magalong says that the virous is quickly escalating in the Baguio City General Hospital where Covid-19 patients are admitted. “It’s becoming a serious concern in the city because some of those infected were doctors and nurses. Some of them were not even directly exposed to Covid-19 positive patients,” he says. 

He also shares that the Department of Health (DOH) only sent 8,100 test kits to the said hospital, given that this institution will cater all Covid-19 related cases across three different regions. “At  present central DOH only issued 8,100 test kits to Baguio General Hospital and Baguio General Testing Center will cater to three regions—I,II, and CAR—the whole Northern Luzon with the population of 10.5 million,” he says. “Availability of test kits is an issue. You also have your consumables, swab kits, and for the same time you should have an adequate number of laboratory personnel. Totally exhausted na ang ating mga personnel. Pagod na pagod na rin sila (Laboratory personnel are overworked and exhausted).” 

To date, Baguio city is continuously doing mass testing despite the limited test kits they have.

“Mass testing is something indispensable because with this you were able to determine your actual Covid-19 situation. The only way to do that is to make sure you have enough test kits,”

the good mayor says. “We’re doing 200 tests every day or more, but this is subject to the capacity of the laboratory.” 

With all of these, Mayor Magalong then asks his constituents to pray for their frontliners. “We’re now facing some serious infections. Offer prayers for them and at the same time recognize their bravery, their courage,” he says. “Can you just imagine they are risking their lives so that others may live. We’re doing everything to protect them.” 

SOURCE: https://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2020/05/10/in-baguio-city-discipline-and-cooperation-are-alive/