NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 12 (PIA) — The provincial office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here in Biliran, has issued an advisory as guides to action against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (nCoV).
The DILG Biliran advisory on the 2019-nCoV dated February 5 signed by Provincial Director Jesus P. Naquila is addressed to the provincial governor, all municipal mayors, all punong barangays, all municipal local government operations officers (MLGOOs), all municipal health officers, all chiefs of police and all other concerned.
The DILG Biliran advisory advised all local government units (LGUs) to create their respective Coronavirus Task Forces to implement the Department of Health (DOH) protocols and guidelines.
LGUs are further advised to extend full cooperation to the DOH and other government agencies to abort the spread of the 2019
-nCoV Acute Respiratory Disease, the advisory stated.
Specifically, the DILG Biliran advisory advised local chief executives including the punong barangays to effectively intensify information education campaign on the 2019-nCoV, its prevention, containment and control, in coordination with the DOH and the Philippine National Police.
Based on the advisory, the MLGOOs are advised to cause the immediate and widest dissemination, discuss within their respective field assignment the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-018, dated January 31, 2010, entitled “Guides to Action Against Coronavirus.”
The MLGOOs are further advised to ensure the reorganization/reactivation of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHRETs).
Under par. 5.1.2.2 of the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-023 dated February 6, 2020, entitled “Amended Guide to Action Against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease,”a BHRET is organized at the minimum ratio of one team for every 5,000 population, and mobilize them to help implement prevention and mitigation, preparedness and response measures for the nCoV ARD. Each BHRET shall be composed of an Executive Officer, a Barangay Tanod and two Barangay Health Workers, one of whom is preferably a nurse or midwife, and all are appointed by the Punong Barangay.
Some functions of the BHRET is to conduct home visits in every person arriving from a country with a 2019-nCoV confirmed cases; list down the names and other important information about all persons known to have been in contact with the Persons Under Investigations (PUIs); require arriving resident/s to check and record their body temperature at least three times a day for the duration of a 14-day voluntary quarantine period; and to check on the condition of the arriving resident/s daily from a distance of not less than one meter when not wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. (nbq/RSV/PIA Biliran)
