By Pearl Gumapos
Valenzuela City is now prepared for the upcoming enhanced community quarantine which will start on August 6 and last through to August 20.
“The city is in good shape in the sense na ready tayo kung dumami pa ‘yang [cases],” Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said in a Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday (August 5).
The Mayor said that various health measures will be implemented following ECQ.
“’Yung response namin is consistent. Whether Delta ‘yan, whether ‘yung original ‘yan na variant. Kami [ay] laging ‘no home quarantine.’ [Mayroong] massive contact tracing hanggang third generation na contacts. May sarili kaming laboratory so we continue to test,” he said.
Today also signifies the end of the city’s distribution of new quarantine passes to residents to control the number of people who will be going out of their homes.
Checkpoints have also been established in cooperation with the Philippine National Police.
The city has also stockpiled oxygen and other medical equipment in preparation for the possible surge of cases.
Gatchalian said the cash aid to be given to families will arrive in the upcoming days.
“Anytime now, darating na ‘yung pondo para sa ayuda ng mga mamamayan natin. So, prine-prepare na namin ‘yung masterlist [at] prine-prepare na ‘yung scheduling nile para ‘pag dating ng pondo [ay] lock and load tayo agad,” Gatchalian said.
“The moment we get the funds today, pinaka-maaga [ay] Saturday natin masisimulan. Pinaka-late na siguro ‘yung Sunday,” he added.
On the distribution of cash aid, Gatchalian said payout centers have been established where residents of the city may go to claim their ayuda.
“Meron kaming designated na payout centers. Pinapadala namin ‘yung mamamayan ng paanyaya sa kanilang mga tahanan. Sa paanyaya, nakalagay doon ‘yung oras, petsa, at lugar na pupuntahan mo. Naka-time block ‘yun. Hindi sila lahat sasabihan na pumunta kayo ng sabay-sabay,” he said.
The Mayor aims to give cash aid to about 80% or 180,000 families.
“Last time, umabot kami sa 80% ng mga pamilya namin. That’s around 180,000 families. Naglaan naman ‘yung lokal na pamahalaan ng mga P26 million para naman masalo namin ‘yung mga 4P’s members na maaaring hindi masama doon sa initial list,” he said. –rir
