By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte government has created a task force to help prevent infectious diseases.
This was contained in the five-page Executive Order No. 51-20 signed by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc on February 19, 2020, which aims to combat infectious diseases such as Covid-19 or commonly known as the coronavirus and other diseases that may endanger the province.
Dubbed as, “Task Force Salun-at: Sagubanit Adaywannak”, the task force is composed of the governor as chairperson and co-chaired by Dr. Medeldorf Gaoat, chair of the committee on health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Dr. Josephine Ruedas, acting provincial health officer and Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos. It also includes the Local Finance Committee of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, the Hospital Management Council led by Dr. Rogelio Balbag, provincial veterinarian Loida Valenzuela, provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay, Dr. Fanny Carmelita Domingo of the Department of Health-Ilocos Norte and the Provincial Director of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office.
Other team members are the city and municipal mayors, and representatives of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Medical Association, Civil Aviation Authority Philippines, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coastguard, Philippine Army, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Meanwhile, personnel from the Provincial Resiliency Office shall act as the secretariat.
As stated in the EO, the task force may call upon any office, barangay officials, non-government organizations, businesses and the private sector for assistance, as the circumstances may require, relative to the performance of their functions. It may also order the military, paramilitary or security enforcers to implement quarantine measures or to facilitate the transport of people.
In his message for the Filipino and Chinese communities regarding the Covid-19, Mr. Manotoc said the province of Ilocos Norte stands with the Chinese community as he expressed hope the virus problem will end soon.
“We would like to assure our Chinese community in the province and abroad that we stand with you in this crisis. I urged everyone to take the necessary precautions and not to look at our Chinese brothers and sisters any different in these trying times. They still remain part of us—part of province and our country,” said Mr. Manotoc.
Through a well-coordinated effort, the governor said the province will continue to implement counter measures such as institutionalizing a health task force against any threat.