AgSur guv highlights stakeholder’s efforts to address COVID-19 pandemic
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jun. 18 (PIA) -- In his State of the Province
Address (SOPA) on Thursday, June 17, Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane,
Jr., highlighted the concerted efforts and initiatives of the provincial
government together with its partner stakeholders to survive from the daily
challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.
He emphasized how the local chief
executives from the 13 municipalities and one city, barangay officials, along
with its partners from the academe, civil society organizations, religious and
business sectors, and IP communities, among others converged their efforts and
continue to extend help to the government in addressing poverty reduction and
the current COVID-19 pandemic. “The establishment of the Provincial Molecular
Laboratory was made possible because of the good working relationship of the
provincial government with various sectors. This also includes the procurement
of the 28 Patient Transport Vehicles for the LGUs which are useful in this time
of health crisis, and even the construction of the Datu Lipus Makapandong
Governor D.O. Plaza Sports Complex,” he said.
Gov. Cane expressed his thanks to all
the past and present government officials of the province for they have helped
and contributed to the progress and milestones of the province. He also
acknowledged President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his administration's
contributions that have brought the province to where it is now amid challenges
and health crisis.
He also bared the major
challenges and setbacks in the year 2020, especially during the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic. "Poverty incidence still remains high. There was a
3.62% decrease in poverty incidence or equivalent to 2,521 poor households who
graduated from poverty from the year 2015 to 2018. Agusan del Sur has still a
long way to go in reducing high poverty incidence in the province," he
said.
Cane also said the province has P15.2
billion total development investments for the year 2020. Out of the P15.2
billion, the Social Development Sector has the largest contribution of P7.4
billion. “The provincial government with the help of other government agencies
was able to establish its Provincial Health Office – Operation Center and
Provincial Quarantine Facility to address the COVID-19 issues and concerns in
the province,” he said.
He added that under the Social
Development Sector, the Department of Health (DOH) has provided P269 million
total investments for health development programs and projects in the province.
The department has also provided 292 human resources for health on contract of
service and five doctors to the barrios. He also thanked the Philippine Health
(PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation for allotting P325 million total investments
on health insurance coverage for all AgSurnons, and the 'No Balance Billing'
and guarantees continuing coverage for COVID-19 patients.
“The provincial health office along
with the medical/health workers had been efficiently performing their tasks and
responsibilities despite limited manpower. The D.O. Plaza Hospital Molecular
Laboratory has already two RT-PCR machines and one fully automated RNA
extraction machine for AgSurnons and even for those outside the province who
would need the lab test. The results are also made available at the soonest
possible time," he said.
Gov. Cane explained that the
extension of the implementation of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine
(MECQ) in the province after June 30 will greatly depend on the status of the
COVID-19 cases. "People's cooperation in the observance/practice of the
imposed health protocols to prevent the transmission of the deadly virus would
significantly affect what community quarantine status will be observed in the
province. Our frontliners had been working hard to keep our people safe, hence,
we all have to support them in any way possible," he said.
He further called on all AgSurnons to
get vaccinated not only to protect themselves but also those people surrounding
them. He emphasized that the vaccines provided by the government are all safe.
"The government intends that we at least achieve the 70% herd immunity.
Most of those who spread fake news about the vaccines are the ones who were
also infected with the virus because they themselves do not believe and do not
follow the health protocols," he said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
