NAPANAM CONTACT TRACER

As the world progresses and leans towards industrialization and digital revolution, the people of the 21st century, are the beneficiaries of these innovation and modernizations. Technology is the greatest tool that we are utilizing these days in order to combat and address issues in this pandemic that the whole world is facing.

Being an advocate of Transformative Governance, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), has come up with the NAPANAM Contact Tracer designed to mainly track and monitor the movement of the people within the premises of La Union helping the contact tracer team in identifying the individual/s who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive case.

The system boasts features that helps in the province’s data analysis, planning and response with regard to the pandemic. It has a Quick Response Code or QR code which displays the health declaration form of the person who owns that code. Because of this, people will no longer take much time in filling out health declaration forms as they enter establishments like fast food chains, drugstores, convenience stores or groceries. The system could also be customized to trace transportation vehicles that enter the domain of La Union.

The Information Communications Technology Unit (ICTU) together with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office formally introduced and demonstrated the NAPANAM system to Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III and to the La Union League of Municipalities of the Philippines attended in by participants from the 20 component Local Government Units (LGU) on September 28, 2020 via video conferencing.

The said system was also presented to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Board Members during the 70th Session of the SP on October 27, 2020 at the SP Session Hall.

On October 17, 2020, the NAPANAM Contact tracer Information System (I.S.) has undergone pilot testing within the PGLU offices/employees. The post assessment has shown a positive and promising result. The pilot test has shown that it is easier to trace and monitor individuals with QR codes because the information gathered from them are stored and kept safe and private within the system of the ICTU of the PGLU.

On November 3, 2020 the said system was officially launched and the PGLU employees at the Provincial Capitol premises were required to have their own QR code scanned.

The ICTU continues to expand, broaden and improve the efficiency and the efficacy of the NAPANAM Contact Tracer system. The said system will soon be officially launched and be implemented and required to the different LGUs.

DENR, PGLU MONITORS LU Solid Waste Management

The Office of the Provincial Governor – Environment and Natural Resources Unit in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 1 conduct a joint monitoring of implementation of solid waste management plans in La Union on September 14, 2020 to October 29, 2020.

In 2019, all of the 10-year solid waste management plans of component LGUs of the Province of La Union has been approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) ExeCom. As mandated in the NSWMC Resolutions approving the plans of the LGUs, monitoring shall be conducted to determine the compliance of LGUs to the 10-year SWM plan thus a joint monitoring of Provincial Government of La Union and DENR-EMB Region 1 was conducted.

The monitoring team evaluated the implementation of the activities indicated in their plans such as creation of Municipal/City Environment and Natural Resources Officer; segregation at source; collection of wastes; operational management of Materials Recovery Facilities; establishment/maintenance of sanitary landfill facilities; and special wastes management among others. Spot inspection was conducted in public markets, schools, barangays and households. Findings of the said monitoring were discussed with the Local Chief Executives and concerned offices.

SP STAFF UNDERGO COMPUTER LITERACY ENHANCEMENT TRAINING

Employees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) display their certificate of participation after completing the Computer Literacy Enhance training for SP Staff conducted on October 28 and 29, 2020 at the Cong. Eriguel Hall, SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.

CODE TEAM VISITS LA UNION, EMPHASIZES PDITR STRATEGY COUNTER CoViD-19

The Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team composed of the National Government’s key representatives visits the Province of La Union to share the best practices in implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) Phase II against the CoViD-19 pandemic as well as discuss other plans moving forward.

PGLU Hosts National Launch of DOH’s Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity

The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) hosted the national launch of the Department of Health’s program to conduct massive immunization among children to protect them against infectious diseases such as measles, rubella and polio, on October 22, 2020 at the Provincial Capitol Building, City of San Fernando, La Union.

The DOH Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA) targets a total of 6,919,015 children aged 59 months and below in the entire country.

A total of 504,897 kids in Region 1 and 61,000 in La Union shall undergo the immunization on October 26 – November 25, 2020.

The launching was graced by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III and DOH officials led by Usec. Gerardo V. Bayugo, Asec. Charade Grande, Asec. Maria Francia M. Laxamana. It was also witnessed by members of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and the Coordinated Operations To Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team headed by Sec. Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Sec. Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon, Dir. Princess Pebbles Duque; and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

With the theme “Chikiting Ligtas, sa Dagdag Bakuna, Kontra Rubella Polio at Tigdas,” the MR OPV SIA aims to prevent additional burden in the health care system, as the country’s health facilities continue to tackle the challenges brought by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Children aged 0-59 months will undergo polio vaccine through drops; while those aged 6-59 months will receive additional measles rubella vaccine through injection.

Trained healthcare workers from the various rural health units (RHU) in the province shall administer the vaccine. The DOH and the Provincial Health Office will oversee the vaccination campaign.

To adhere to the minimum public health standards, the activity will be held in identified facility or fixed post in communities. With face shields, masks and sanitizers, the RHU workers shall practice a no-touch procedure and observe physical distancing to reduce risk exposure of the children.

In his message, Gov. Pacoy expressed his support to the MR OPV SIA. “We are intensifying our health promotion, enhancing disease surveillance and prevention, strengthening our health care provider network, and establishing specialized disease and rehabilitative health care. We do all this to establish a Secure La Union, a Province with empowered communities that could stand firm against any crisis,” he said.

Comm. Belgica Shares Anti-Corruption Fight to LU SP

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of La Union, through the Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety headed by its chairperson Board Member Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V, held a consultation meeting on the topic, “Lowering Corruption: A Transformative Factor for Peace” on October 21, 2020.

The topic was thoroughly discussed by a long-time anti-corruption ally of the province, Commissioner Greco B. Belgica of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). Commissioner Belgica gave an in-depth presentation of the Economic Cost and Effect of Corruption and the way forward ahead for the Philippines in the fight against corruption. He highlighted two ways to eradicate corruption: remove corrupt government officials and simplify complex government system.

Discussed in the consultation was how PACC handles complaints against corrupt officials and/or anomalies in agencies, and if the evidence is sufficient, same office also handles the actual arrest. To date, the PACC has axed 20 government officials, three of which were successfully decided in favor of the Commission.

Comm. Belgica concluded his presentation by saying, “In order to achieve a corrupt free government, we will need a strong and effective justice system, amendment of outdated anti-corruption laws, a system to manage flow using technology, and the reinstatement of death penalty for heinous crimes and classifying corruption as such, and most importantly, a strong executive leader that supports anti-corruption work.”

Comm. Belgica reiterated President Rodrigo ROA Duterte and his administration’s commitment to eliminate corruption for the betterment of the quality of life of the Filipinos. In return, the province of La Union headed by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III, through the SP, Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety affirmed the province’s utmost support toward the attainment of a corrupt-free society.

FACE MASK WITH FACE SHIELD NOW REQUIRED IN LA UNION

The 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approves on 3rd and Final Reading during its 69th Regular Session on October 20, 2020 the Full-Face Shield Ordinance. The ordinance aims to raise health protocols to further reduce the risks of transmitting the Corona Virus Disease 2019 in public transport and other facilities as health authorities pointed out that the use of face shields and masks to reduce the exposure and the emission of respiratory droplets.

EMPOWERED WOMEN FOR CRISIS RECOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION

EMPOWERED WOMEN FOR CRISIS RECOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION. The La Union Vibrant Women Inc., led by the its chairperson Vini Nola A. Ortega, donated a total amount of P2,891,200 to the Provincial Government of La Union, on October 12, 2020.