NARRA, Palawan — With a province-wide lockdown in effect since last week, this primarily agricultural town has been focusing mainly on ensuring that its citizens are amply provided with food supplies they need to go through the mandatory enhanced community quarantine period.
Narra Mayor Gerandy Danao, in an interview with Palawan News, underscored the zero incidences of COVID-19 positive persons in his town, noting at the same time that they have only seven individuals identified as persons under investigation (PUI), most of whom are under home quarantine and did not warrant COVID-19 testing.
Danao said that despite the province-wide lockdown, many Narra residents still manage to pursue individual economic activities.
“Nakakapaghanapbuhay pa nga ang mga tao dito, at hindi po tayo magugutuman kasi tayo po ang source ng bigas, isda, gulay. Marami tayo niyan. Hirap lang po tayong kumilos kasi curfew natin 24 hours na kaya medyo nag-aalangan kumilos ang mga tao kasi maraming nahuhuli, dahil sa utos ni Presidente na bawal angkas (sa motorbike),” Danao said.
Danao said, however, that they are serious in their efforts to maintain the town’s COVID-free status.
“Iniingatan natin ang mapasok tayo ng lintik na COVID na sakit na yan,” he said. “Ang masama kasi sa COVID na ito, pinahihirapan naman niya tayo. Pero sa Narra maraming gulay, marami tayong isda, marami tayong bigas, palay at resources andito sa atin hindi tayo magugutuman,” he said.
Danao admits that the municipality has no capacity to manage a serious COVID crisis.
He also noted that there are many private individuals volunteering food aid and other support for the town’s efforts.
“May mga taong nagbibigay sa atin para ibigay sa ating mga kababayan. Yung isda na galing sa aplaya binibigay ng mga naglalaot. Pag,-uwi ko naman ‘yong ibinigay na gulay ibinibigay ko sa mga taga-aplaya, barter barter lang. May nagbigay ng mga kaban na bigas, noodles, pera lahat ‘yon pambigay sa mga kababayan natin. Kaya nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga taong tumutulong, ayaw din ng iba magpabanggit, pero nagpapasalamat talaga ako,” he said.
Danao also said that after the distribution of the food packs, a second wave of distribution can be expected as they have already approved the budget.
“Itong dinidistribute ngayon first batch pa lang ‘yan, may second batch pa tayo na ipamimigay sa mahigit 25,000 families, bibigyan lahat yan, siguro sa second batch bigas lang at baka cash, pero hindi pa approve ‘yong cash, gagawan pa ng resolution, wala pa, basta meron silang matatanggap,” he said.
Aside from food packs the Local Government will also buy seeds to be distributed to the Narranons encouraging them to plant vegetables at their backyard for their consummation.
“Magpupurchase kami ng mga butong gulay, pagtatanimin namin sila sa kanilang mga bahay-bahay para kahit papa’no meron sila, 200,000 ang ipamimili namin para sa seeds na ipamimigay, para makatipid sila, makapagtanim, magkaroon ng sariling gulay,” he said.
Danao also said they are ensuring support to all their frontliners deployed in the hospital and health centers.
“100% ang ating monitoring at lahat ng Barangay Captain ay nagtatrabaho. Lahat ng kagawad, tanod ay nagtatrabaho,” he said, adding that he personally go around the barangays to distribute food aid to the frontliners.
“Dito ako ngayon sa COVID nakatutok, hindi kasi pwede iwan ang mga tao. Ang nga frontliners, pag iniwan ko yan mag-cocollapse yan. Iisipin nila, hindi nga pumupunta ang Mayor natin dito, bago tayo nagpapakamatay dito,” he said.
He also said that they have already ordered additional Personal Protective Equipment but due to suspended flights in Palawan, they were not able to receive their supplies.
“Meron po tayong mga na-order bago pa lang mag-order si Pangulong Duterte, pero hindi nga nakarating dahilan naabutan na kaya hindi po natin nakuha ‘yong mga gamit na kailangan para sa mga frontliners pero nagpapasalamat naman tayo dahil hindi pa tayo napasok ng COVID meron pa namang nagagamit ang ating mga frontliners para hindi tamaan agad pero hindi po gaya ng ginagamit sa mga ospital na full gear talaga, kasi wala pa ngang dumarating kasi wala naman tayong kapasidad pumunta sa Manila,” he said.
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