‘Pandemic council’ eyed for Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  How should Cebu City act during a pandemic after COVID-19?

For City Councilor Jerry Guardo, there is a need to establish what he said is a Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness Council to better guide the city during outbreak of diseases such as the COVID-19 and other disasters.

The proposed ordinance entitled "Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness Ordinance" was referred to Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling for review.

"The government, including its agencies and corporations, must work together towards protecting and supporting the frontliners; providing them supplies and equipment necessary for detecting the disease and caring to those infected; ensuring that community quarantines are effectively implemented; deliver essential necessities and mobilizing state assets to sustain the fight against this pandemic," the proposed ordinance reads.

According to the measure, the city government aims to promote and ensure the protection of the health and safety of its residents from all forms of communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially those which have epidemic and pandemic effects; implement measures calculated to prevent the entry and spread of these diseases and provide services to control infection from the same; and attend and provide their medical necessities, healthcare facilities, and basic needs, among others.

Section 4 provides that the Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness Council shall be created and shall be composed of the following members: City Mayor, as the chairperson; chairperson of the City Council's Committee on Health, chairperson of the City Council's Committee on Appropriations, City Health Department Head, Department of Health Regional Director, to name a few, as members.

The duties, functions, and responsibilities of the said council are to adopt, promulgate, and implement rules and regulations on the spread, containment, and prevention of any contagious diseases; recommend policy and guidelines to reduce the frequency of transmission, break transmission chains, and prevent or contain localized or granular outbreaks; recommend and implement total, localized, or granular lockdown of places, sitio, or barangay, among others.

In addition, the council’s duty is to also provide for testing centers or facilities for free mass testing, formulate the annual budget of the board, and accept donations from both the public and private sectors.

The mayor shall exercise general supervision of the council.

Section 7 states that the annual budget for the council shall be charged against the General Fund Appropriations in the amount of P5 million.

As stated in the proposed ordinance, all efforts should be directed towards the protection and promotion of health of the people of the city. — KQD (FREEMAN)