Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has directed all Local Chief Executives of the province to allocate funds for the purchase of vaccines and for other operations related to COVID-19 response, especially amidst the urgent threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
During an emergency meeting held yesterday, August 13, at the Provincial Tourism Complex joined by some mayors and their Incident Commanders, Governor Dayanghirang directed all the mayors to prioritize the vaccination program and COVID-19 response as other regular programs can wait.
“So ano ba dapat i-sacrifce natin? I-sacrifice natin ang ibang proyekto o i-sacrifice natin ang buhay ng tao natin. [Of course] unahin natin ang buhay ng mga tao natin. (What are we supposed to sacrifice? Should we sacrifice our other projects or the lives of our people. [Of course] let us prioritize the lives of our people),” said Governor Dayanghirang.
Governor Dayanghirang said that in anticipation of the possible entry of the Delta variant in the province, it must also prepare for the worst-case scenario by training more people, identifying additional facilities to cater to COVID-19 patients, and fast-tracking the vaccination program.
“NO COUNTERPART FUND, NO VACCINE ALLOCATION”
Governor Dayanghirang warned the Local Government Units who will not provide allocation for the vaccines that only those LGUs with counterpart funds will be given with vaccines by the provincial government, stressing that the allocation of funds for vaccines also reflects the LGU’s interest to save the lives of their people.
He says that the province cannot afford to solely rely on the national government for funding. “Hindi pwde na i-asa natin lahat sa national government. Meron din tayong sariling resources natin. (We cannot rely all our needs to the national government. We also have our own resources),” said the Governor.
For the COVID-19 response, the provincial government has already allocated P80 million – P60 million will be used as counterpart funds for the vaccination program and P20 million for the COVID-19 response operation.
Some Local Government Units in the province have already allocated funds for the vaccines and their COVID-19 response, including the City of Mati, and the municipalities of San Isidro and Tarragona.
Currently, the province has already submitted a letter of intent to the national government for the purchase of vaccines as it aims to inoculate 100 percent of its eligible population.
With the fiscal year about to end, the Governor strongly urged the mayors to set aside funds as government coffers would soon become exhausted. “So hangga’t maaga na meron pang pwdeng pagkunan, mag allocate na kayo para meron tayong preparation. It’s high time. Di natin alam kalian matatapos tong problema natin sa Covid. (While there are still funds available, you should allocate so that you can prepare. It is high time. We don’t know when this problem on COVID-19 will end).
Aside from the vaccination program, the provincial government has proposed to establish a P25 million oxygen plant in the province to augment its depleting oxygen supply, especially in the municipalities.
Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 Action Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo also announced the strategies that have been implemented so far at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center to address the shortage of facilities to cater to COVID-19 patients amidst the current surge of cases.
These strategies include putting up additional COVID-19 extension and additional COVID ICU beds, conversion of the DOPMC 3rd floor into a communicable pavilion and transfer all clean cases at the second-floor wards, and the transfer of all mild cases including employees to a separate facility outside DOPMC to reserve hospital beds to moderate to severe cases.
With all these strategies set in place, Dr. Bersaldo appealed to the general public to also help the local healthcare system by abiding with the health protocols and by having themselves vaccinated.
Meanwhile, he also urged the mayors to adopt other strategies, which include:
1. Strict and immediate Granular lockdown for clustering of cases
2. Provide Logistical Needs: food, fuel, PPEs and medical supplies.
3. Utilization of telemedicine
4. Expansion of Isolation Facilities
