Ten newly-hired Provincial Government of La Union Project-Based Nurses start to render their service on April 7, 2020 at Naguilian Distirct Hospital.
This project aims to augment the present under-staffed situation of the Nursing Service Department since 15 employees are on strict home quarantine.
As COVID-19 cases grow exponentially, so does all the work to prevent, detect and respond to this pandemic.
The province of La Union requires its people the mandatory use of face masks whenever they are outside of their residences or in public places and strict observance of physical distancing as provided under Ordinance No. 215-2020 which was passed by the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its 41st Regular Session on April 7, 2020.
The passage of the ordinance is in conformity with the directives of the Department of Health (DOH) and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases that face masks shall be worn at all times in public places and physical distancing shall be strictly observed in order to prevent the further transmission of the Corona Virus Infectious Disease (COVID-19) which has already killed millions of people worldwide.
The face mask, as provided in the ordinance, must sufficiently cover the nose, mouth and chin with specifications and proper use as recommended by the DOH. However, if face masks are not available, the use of indigenous, reusable, homemade or do-it-yourself masks, face shields, handkerchiefs or such other protective equipment which can lessen transmission and/or infection of COVID-19 are allowed.
Aside from the mandatory wearing of face masks, the ordinance also mandates the observance and stringent practice of physical distancing of at least one meter from other persons during the enhanced community quarantine or while the threat of COVID-19 is still persisting.
Persons found violating the said ordinance will be fined P2,000.00 while P5,000.00 for heads of offices/agencies or managers of business establishments for the first infraction, and P5,000 for the subsequent infractions for both.
The City and Municipal Mayors of the component Local Government Units of the province through their respective Punong Barangays and PNP personnel are authorized to strictly enforce or ensure the compliance of the provisions of the ordinance.
Likewise, all government offices and facilities and all private commercial establishments are mandated to strictly implement this policy.
After having received reports on discrimination of patients infected with the Corona Virus Infectious Disease or COVID-19 and medical workers and other frontliners, the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) during its 41st Regular Session on April 7, 2020 enacted the La Union Anti-COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020 under SP Ordinances 216 and 218, 2020.
Under this ordinance, no person, group of persons or entity, shall discriminate through act or utterance which causes stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation or harassment against medical and non-medical frontliners; persons who tested positive with COVID-19 and their family members, Persons Under Investigation (PUIs), Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) and recovered patients during national health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ordinance also provides that any public officer who refuses or fails to give assistance to PUIs, PUMs, or persons infected with COVID-19, recovered patients, and frontliners and also persons who spread fake news on PUI, PUM, and persons infected with COVID-19 shall be equally liable.
Consequently, when DOH changed terms for reporting purposes, PUIs and PUMs were then amended under SP Ordinance 218-2020 to Suspected, Probable and Confirmed Cases to be consistent with related guidelines and protocols.
Persons found violating the said ordinance will be fined P2,000.00 while P5,000.00 for heads of offices/agencies or managers of business establishments for the first infraction. For the subsequent infractions, P5,000 fine or imprisonment for a minimum of three months and not to exceed one year at the discretion of the court for both.
The La Union Police Provincial Office, Component Local Government Units through the Municipal/City Police Stations, Municipal Peace and Order and Security Units/Office and other related personnel as deputized by the Local Chief Executive, Punong Barangays, and their respective Peace and Order personnel and/or Barangay Tanods shall strictly implement this policy.
Frontliners are our first line of defense against this dreaded disease. Thus, the least we could do is to accord them with love and respect and not to inflict upon them any act of discrimination.
HOME FOR THE HEALTH WORKERS. Health workers in various hospitals in La Union arrive at their temporary accommodation provided for them by the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), to aid them in their continuing service in the front lines against COVID-19. The PGLU has tapped some hotels and accommodation establishments in the province to serve as temporary shelter for health workers who wish to stay closer to their workplaces as hospitals heightened operations in view of the pandemic.
DOOR-TO-DOOR DELIVERY. Residents of Santo Tomas receive their relief goods right at their doorstep on April 6, 2020, as the Provincial Government of La Union distributed a total 9,904 food packs in the town to aid them in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
DONATION FROM PCSO. La Union Medical Center CEO Dr. Glenn Ernest Fonbuena receives a check amounting to P2.5 Million from Philippine Charities Sweepstakes Offices (PCSO) La Union Branch through Financial Management Officer 1 Lalaine F. Martos, on April 6, 2020, at the PCSO La Union Office, San Juan, La Union. PCSO donated the amount to LUMC as aid in its COVID-19 operations.
Another batch of deliveries of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as surgical masks, gloves, plastic aprons, and disposable surgical caps arrives on April 5, 2020, at the Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union. Procured by the Provincial Government of La Union, the PPEs will be given to health workers serving in the hospital frontlines against COVID-19 in La Union. Other batches of PPEs are expected to be delivered next week.
A total of 15,460 food packs were distributed to the 49 barangays of Agoo this on April 4-5, 2020 from the Provincial Government of La Union.
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