SANTIAGO CITY—The local government unit of Santiago City has raised its concern on the situation of its residents due to the lengthy quarantine under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Joseph S. Tan, referred to as “Bespren” by his constituents, said the city government has implemented measures in response to the current pandemic that threatens lives across the globe.
“Together with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the different agencies, we came out with an Executive Order to safeguard every Santiaguenos in these difficult times,” he said.
“The city government will extend all the possible assistance to the different sectors especially those affected by this crisis,” Tan stressed.
The city government implemented quarantine measures and strategies to sustain the health aspect and developmental needs of the public, he emphasized.
Checkpoints manned by the Santiago Police Office (SCPO) along with the Task Force Covid from the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), City Health Office, and Barangay Officials were on alert along the national roads upon entry and those going out of the city.
This is control measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease, using thermal scanning among the motorists presenting a Health Certificate, Working Pass, or travel pass before entering the city, he said.
Disinfection in public places were undertaken in the different barangays to ensure the health concern of the villagers.
Community Loading and Unloading area was designated now at barangay Singsayon when entering the city proper to make sure of a strict supervision of the drivers and its company in the delivery of their merchandise under a travel order and medical certificate restriction and adherence to the restrictions.
Aside from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the National Government, different marginalized sectors in the City have received livelihood and financial assistance from the local government, the mayor said.
“We gave P2,000 to ambulant vendors per family while P2,500 to the employees who lost their jobs,” he said.
Mayor Tan said Persons with Disability (PWDs), senior citizens and members of Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs) who can still work receive sewing machines from the city government as assistance to them this pandemic.
Around 49,000 families were given relief goads and rice assistance earlier during the enhanced community quarantine period to all family household, displaced workers and those under temporary shelter in the city that started on March 18 for its first wave, April 15 for the second wave and July 27 for its third wave.
Additional assistance was given to the event industry to include the musicians, dance instructors, event coordinators, photographers, videographers, choreographers, florist, stylist and sound operators.
This included aside from the more than 300 proprietors and displaced workers of barbershops, salons, gyms and freelance makeup artist, who were given assistance of P2,500 each.
Santiago’s “Rolling Talipapa” was on the go around the different barangays for the residents to avail of the essentials particularly on food stuffs instead of going to the public market. Schedules for each barangay was posted via Facebook of the local government unit, the mayor said.
“We provided six tractors, with free gasoline and free service of the drivers. To those with idle land in the barangays. Also seedlings for them to plant and for them to sell their produce soon in the market,” Tan said.