SUGGESTIONS FOR ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE IN BARANGAYS

Yesterday I received these suggestions from Col. Philip Jose Paja (Philippine Air Force), our Assistant Defense Attache at the Philippine Embassy in the People’s Republic of China, on how our barangays could enforce the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

He said their team in Beijing is closely monitoring the Covid-19 development in the Philippines and from time to time discuss the good practices in China which they believe would also apply in the country.

Here are the team’s recommendations which I hope our barangays would adopt:

“As experienced here in China, the key (to
overcoming COVID-19) is the local village associations, the counterpart of our sitio/ purok/barangays. Dito, building management ang kritikal sa pagbaba ng kaso ng COVID-19. Karamihan kasi dito sa China ay nakatira sa mga buildings o condominiums. Ang civilian building guards at receptionists ang in charge sa pagpapatupad ng quarantine rules sa building. Kaya kapag matigas ang ulo mo at ayaw mong sumunod, saka sila tatawag ng pulis, o sa kaso natin ay maaaring ang mga tanod na muna.

Everytime na lalabas ka, dadaan ka sa kaisa-isang ingress and egress gate na ang nagbabantay ay isang village official (o barangay tanod sa atin sa Pilipinas). Bago ka makalabas, halimbawa para bumili ng grocery o gamot, ay kailangang mag log out ka sa logbook. Isusulat mo ang iyong cellphone number at address doon, pagkatapos ay kukunan ka ng body temperature. This way, contact tracing will be easier if needed. One person per household lang palagi ang pwedeng lumabas. Then sasabihin ng tanod sa iyo ang location ng mga grocery/drug stores na bukas o kaya ay ituturo ito sa iyo sa mapa. Sasabihin din niya sa iyo ang limits ng iyong paglabas.

Simple lang gawin ito pero makakatulong nang malaki upang hindi ma- overwhelm ang police and military sa pagpapatupad ng batas.

‘Yung ating PNP, AFP, and other uniformed personnel ay sa main roads lang magmamanman habang ang local government naman would strictly implement the enhanced community quarantine. Eventually, kakaunti na lang ang dadaan sa mga main thoroughfares, except of course the trucks that are delivering supplies.

Bukod sa makakatulong ito sa uniformed personnel, nagkakaroon pa ng bayanihan ang ganitong sistema because those who have more (in life) would be inspired to donate assistance to the volunteers and those who are manning the gates, inspection tables, and tents.

When people see the LGUs doing the job, there would be less resistance and obedience, as long as the uniformed personnel are there to assist them as needed.

Additionally, China employs the daily wage earners and farmers to man the local check points, choke points, and screening areas para may sahod sila sa pang araw- araw.

We hope LGUs officials would seriously study these recommendations based on our experience here in China.”

Thank you for this, Col Philip Jose Paja, and to your team, Sir! Ingat po kayo!