Author: Jerome Marzan

To further increase the CoViD-19 Vaccine uptake in the province, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the Advocacy, Demand Generation, and Social Mobilization Group (ADGSMG) of the CoViD-19 Vaccination Program Task Force (CVP-TF) conducts a series of Demand Strategy Training of Trainers. ADGSM first convenes with the Demand Generation Officers from the Municipalities of Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Sudipen, and Santol on July 15, 2021.
The Training of Trainers (TOT) is an avenue to converge and connect with the ADGSM counterparts to download the Bakuna Muna Advocacy Playbook, which will serve as the province’s localized guide to generating greater demand for CoViD-19 vaccines across all priority groups. Through the TOT, local ADGSMs could share best practices and combine these to intensify their local activities as La Union move forward with the other vaccine priority groups.
Through the combined efforts of the PGLU and local ADGSMs, benefits of having the vaccine will be thoroughly explained to every Kaprobinsiaan, and every resident will be invited to become advocates.
Meanwhile, CVP-TF also commended the municipalities with their vaccine demand generation initiatives. Among the best practices was engaging frontliners and health workers who already got their CoViD-19 Vaccine and share their testimonies during meetings. They have also cascaded information and communication materials down to their barangays even before deploying the CoViD-19 vaccine.
The Department of Health aims to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos in 2021, to achieve herd community.
With the #BakunaMuna CoViD-19 Vaccination Program supported by data-driven approaches, PGLU is hopeful that we shall soon recover from this crisis and move forward in building a #StrongerLaUnion.

“We are on top of the situation…ready po ang kapulisan with the help of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) at handa po tayong ituloy ang ating mga programa upang hindi po magkaroon ng karahasan dito sa La Union,” expressed La Union Police Provincial (LUPPO) Director Jonathan Calixto as he assured that they are intensifying crime-prevention efforts.

Through a one-on-one interview today (July 15, 2021), the director asserted that the province is generally peaceful as the LUPPO continues to conduct the national simultaneous anti-criminality law enforcement operations on loose firearms, illegal drugs, arrest of wanted persons and drug personalities. He stated that in La Union, they are focused on the arrest of gun-for-hire personalities and to pre-empt their plans.

The LUPPO is aligned to the updated provincial strategy of La Union with strategic focus to establish La Union as a Safe, Secure, Self-sufficient and Sustainable Province. As Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III emphasized “there is no room for insurgency and violence in the province.”

PD Calixto ensures that they continue to have police visibility, patrolling and checkpoints and implement Inter-Agency Task Force Health Protocols. With zero insurgency in the province anti-Insurgency campaign continues through reaching out to far-flung areas through the LUPPO Patubig Program. Simulation exercises and drills are also conducted for anti-terrorism.

Advocacy groups in the province, whom PD Caixto called the “ears and eyes of the community,” are also mobilized. These advocacy groups are composed of members of force multipliers such as rider associations, youth sectors and environment advocates.

With Gov Pacoy’s directive for cohesive operations in ensuring the safety of all, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was also instructed to work hand in hand with the LUPPO and other local DRRMOs.

“Governor Pacoy is very supportive in our campaigns against insurgency, criminal gangs, drug personalities…ito ang isa pong inspirasyon namin kaya ginagawa po namin ang lahat ng makakaya naming dahil very supportive po si Governor Pacoy,” expressed PD Calixto.

The PGLU calls for all kaprobinsiaan to be advocates of peace and order by reporting any known crimes to the LUPPO through (072) 700 5100. In case of emergency, call La Union Rescue at 911.

As one kaprobinsiaan, we can uphold our low criminality rate and sustain the safety and security of one another.

To provide strategic support in response to the CoViD-19, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), through the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT), continues to collaborate with its component LGUs in enabling their local Incident Management Team (IMTs) across the province.
The PIMT leads monitoring and regular meeting of the local Incident Management Teams (IMTs).
Local IMTs play a significant role. They serve as the forefronts in ensuring the safety of every Kaprobinsiaan. IMTs also works round-the-clock to intensify the implementation of the Prevention-Detection-Isolation-Treatment-Reintegration Strategy (PDITR).
The PIMT has a strong tie-up with the national government organizations, which includes the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Office of the Civil Defense I (OCD). The following agencies including the personnel from the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO) serve as the partners of the PGLU in manning the seven major quarantine control points in the Province of La Union.
Moreover, among the tasks being monitored by the local IMTs is the resident’s compliance to the health protocols and community quarantine protocols and strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities. PGLU believes that the key to achieving the road to recovery would be scaling up efforts on community hygiene measures such as wearing face masks and face shields, social distancing, and frequent hand washing. In addition, to improve adherence to the regulations made to eradicate CoViD-19, PGLU introduces legal actions for individuals who defy the health protocols by virtue of the Provincial Ordinance 891 or the minimum health standards ordinance.
PIMT continues to support the CoViD-19 Vaccination Program of PGLU. As of the moment, personnel from PIMT were deployed at the mega vaccination site of the PGLU located at Fr. Burgos Gym, Saint Louis College, City of San Fernando, La Union.
Recognizing the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to the COVID-19 response will lead us through a #StrongerLaUnion.
PGLU is doing and will continue to do its part to support the response to the pandemic in the Province of La Union, grounded in strategic approach and solidarity. But, we can’t do this alone. Therefore, Gov. Pacoy calls for the cooperation to every Kaprobinsiaan to protect their loved ones and end this pandemic.
Stay safer with us, work #WithUs

As a platform for the local economy to bounce back from the sudden halt, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the Local Economic Enterprise and Investment Promotions Unit (LEEIPU) joins the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the opening of the La Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council Week Celebration with the Theme: “Makabagong MSMEs, Bagong Pag-asa Laban sa Pandemya” on July 13, 2021 at CSI Atrium, City of San Fernando, La Union.

In his message, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III highlighted, “Despite being impacted by the greatest game changer the modern world ever faced, the COVID 19 pandemic, I am grateful for you have organized the activities such as this that help us stir economic recovery as we all continue to promote business-friendly environment in our province…Equipped with the lessons from this fight, it reveals the silver lining that our MSMEs are resilient and are drivers of an inclusive transition towards a more sustainable economy.”

DTI Provincial Director Merlie D. Membrere imparts the overview of this year’s MSMED Week Celebration. “The celebration will be highlighted by the awarding of Safety Seal to business establishments and local government units compliant with safety and health protocols,” Membrere said. She further discussed the importance of RA 6977: An Act to Promote, Develop and Assist Small and Medium Scale Enterprises through the Creation of a Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council, and The Rationalization of Government Assistance Programs and Agencies Concerned with the Development which led to the MSMED celebration.

Meanwhile, MSMED Council President Lina Flor Hizon emphasized on the collaborative programs of the government, private sector, Civil Society Organizations and non-governmental organizations in paving the way to economic recovery and resiliency among the business sector. She further stated that the MSMEs, which comprise more than 90% of the business sector, is the lifeblood of the economy.

There are 19 MSMEs who joined the Opening Program followed by a Financing and MSMED Forum with the Topic: Enabling Digital Economy powered by Logistics Management and E-commerce. The awarding of Safety Seal Ceremony spearheaded by the City Government of San Fernando and DTI Provincial Office identified eight Business Establishment Awardees. They are: Hyundai (SFC Branch), Citi Hardware (SFC and Bauang Branch), Savemore-Sanford Marketing (SFC and Aringay Branch), CSI Mall, CSI Supermarket and Mc Donalds (All SFC branches).