DAVAO ORIENTAL — Forging solidarity and unity in the fight against COVID-19, three regional executives have joined Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang during the province’s grand launch of the BIDA Solusyon campaign which bids to drum up preventive measures against the dreaded disease.

Department of Health Regional Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang, Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Director Alex Roldan, and Philippine Information Agency Regional Director Frances Mae Macapagat have joined hands in throwing their all-out support to the provincial government’s efforts in the fight against the pandemic.  

During the launching ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol on October 13, the regional executives lauded Davao Oriental’s best practices that led Davao Oriental to become the province with the lowest positivity rate and highest recovery rate on COVID-19 in the region — a “laudable accomplishment which they say speaks volumes to the kind of  leadership the provincial government has.”

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, who was chosen as one of the three regional ambassadors of the DILG’s Disiplina Muna national advocacy — alongside Mayor Justina Yu of the Municipality of San Isidro, Davao Oriental and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio of Davao City, said that while he is humbled to be chosen for the title, the province’s performance is attributed to the sacrifices of the workers who are at frontlines and the generosity of the people who gave their support.

“The people of Davao Oriental deserve nothing but the best, and that is the reason why we do what we do,” said Gov. Dayanghirang, adding that all of the province’s efforts were driven by the best intentions.

The Governor also said that it is people’s unity that drives him to push forward and be more eager to continue with the actions and plans against COVID-19. “Palihug, tuguti ako nga muhangyo kaninyong tanan. Padayon kita sa pagtinabangay, padayon kita sa pagpakabana sa usa’g usa, ug padayon kita sa pagbuhat ug unsa ang angay ug makatarunganon (Please allow me to ask all of you. Let’s continue in helping each other, let’s continue actively support each other, and continue to do what is right,” he added.

BIDA Solusyon

Tuesday’s  information, education campaign highlights the BIDA Solusyon against COVID-19, a national advocacy being adopted by the local government that focuses on the four (4) minimum health measures to beat the pandemic, which are:

B – Bawal wala’y mask

I – I-sanitize ang mga kamot

D – Distansya ug usa ka metro

A – Aksyon base sa tinuod nga impormasyon

The campaign promotes the active role of individuals in the fight against COVID-19 by practicing these behaviors as the government believes that  “a strong and cohesive information campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic that continuously affects us in many ways. The “BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19” aims to encourage the Filipino people to take an active role in the fight against our common enemy: COVID-19 (the “COntraVIDa”).

In her message, Regional Director of the Department of Health, Dr. Annabelle P. Yumang, gave emphasis to the role of the government in leading the people to succeed in the battle against the unseen enemy. She also stressed the importance of following the minimum health protocols as we are oblivious of who might be carriers of the virus.

With her own mnemonics, Dr. Yumang said COVID can be beaten by COVID: C-ooperation, O-bedience, V-igilance, I-ndivisibility, and D-iscipline.

With the DILG’s “BIDA ka kung may disiplina ka,” tag-line, Regional Director Alex Roldan emphasized the role of discipline in the long fight against the disease.

Putting a premium on discipline in the fight against COVID-19, PIA XI Regional Director Frances Mae Macapagat, emphasized discipline among the general public in filtering reliable information from the false.  In her message, she gave weight to the role of the media in the fight against COVID-19.

“This pandemic also turned out to be an info-demic. Information becomes essential for survival,” she said, recalling how people thirst for and relied on information especially the onset of the pandemic.

She also stated that the media and the government are able to shape narratives by using all available platforms to influence the change in the behavior of people through the information that is relevant, timely, and factual.

Director Macapagat encouraged all the media personnel to practice responsible reporting, which was responded positively by the media practitioners who pledged their commitment.

Effects on Mental Health

Mental health is also among the other aspects neglected amidst the COVID-19 pandemic’s rapid sweep around the world. Inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry, and concern, Tuesday’s activity also highlighted Mental Health Awareness.

Psychologist Dr. Rose Anelyn B. Ceniza of the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology said that productivity can still be achieved and life can still be enjoyed amidst the uncertainty of when the pandemic will end.

She gave her five tips on maintaining mental health at the time of the pandemic. “Number one, it is important to have that sense of personal control. Second, we always have to bear in mind that we are in this new normal situation. We have to embrace it. We have to live with it. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t go on with life. We have to be persistent. Third, recognize that your feelings of fear, anxiety, and sadness are normal emotions. The next is, since we are in the new normal and still we have this sense of control, we can always choose what is right and what is good. And the last thing is to keep on to your faith,” she capped.

The activity was also highlighted by the launching of Super Gov Boy BIDA Muna Infomercial, signing of Pledge of Support for BIDA Campaigns, expressing of Commitment Responses from the youth and media sectors, and turning over of PPEs and IEC Materials to LGUs.  

The BIDA Solusyon campaign is an activity initiated by the Provincial Information Office in coordination with the Provincial Health Office.

The activity was participated by media practitioners, information officers, and health officers from the different local government units, representatives from the youth, tourism, and education sector, and members of the Provincial Task Force on COVID-19. By Shaye Dacles & KLD| Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan