LGU Pili highlights Covid-19 measures

PILI, Camarines Sur --- The local government unit (LGU) here continues to show its resolve to cushion the ill-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic by ensuring that all mitigation programs are in place, particularly in providing livelihood opportunities to its constituents.

This was stressed by Mayor Tomas P. Bongalonta Jr., during the regular Laging Handa Nework briefing on July 22, Monday. The show is hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar.

With the agriculture sector greatly affected in terms of livelihood opportunities particularly during the implementation of the enhanced and then by the modified general community quarantine (ECQ and MGCQ), Bongalonta, together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), initiated the distribution of fertilizers to all farmers in the said municipality.

“We distributed fertilizers to our farmers amounting to P3.7 million. We are happy that we have the DA with us who also gave away 500 bags of fertilizer. PhilRice also gave out 3,500 bags of rice seedlings at 20 kilos each bag. Rice mills here also gave us 50 bags of rice, one commercial store also gave us 50 bags of rice,” Bongalonta said.

He also said that the LGU is directly buying rice from the farmers.

To augment its Covid-19 relief distribution, the LGU also accepted donations coming from organizations, individuals, other government agencies and from Rep. Gabriel Bordado, he said.

“Magnolia gave us P1 million worth of dressed chicken and we added P3 million to that so we can give all families in Pili with dressed chicken. We have opened up livelihood opportunities too. We are making pillows out of plastics from auto dealers. Rice husks are used in producing energy called biomass,” Bongalonta said. As to the LGU’s contribution to control the spread of the Covid-19, Bongalonta said that the local government has strengthened its checkpoint areas, manned by barangay officials and personnel of the Municipal Health Office to ensure that health protocols are strictly being followed.

“We have quarantine and isolation areas here in Pili Central School, Bagasina High School in Himaao, and La Purisima. We also have complete equipment and medical teams and we disinfect the facilities everyday, not just in the schools but the whole road along the national highway,” he said.

Other guests during the PCOO program were Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, ASEC Jonjie Gonzales and Naga City SK Federation President Kylie Tripulca.

Two local hosts from Camarines Sur also took part during the program, namely: Grace R. Simando, officer-in-charge of Radyo Pilipinas representing the broadcast media; and former board member and veteran broadcaster and columnist Ernie Verdadero, representing the print media. (LSMacatangay-PIAV/Camarines Sur)