WHILE DOOMSAYERS demonize residents of Barangay Pasonanca to reject the Covid-19 isolation facility built there by the government, the Santa Maria Barangay Council has allowed the use of the gymnasium at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School as an added facility for Covid-19 patients.
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| Top photo: Mayor Beng Climaco. And below is the Covid-19 isolation facility at the gymnasium of Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School in Barangay Santa Maria. (Bong Serondo) |
The Santa Maria Barangay Council led by its chairman Los Eli Angeles even passed and approved a resolution throwing its all-out support to the efforts of the local government in putting up more isolation wards following the surge in Covid-19 infections in Zamboanga.
Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, lauded and praised the Santa Maria Barangay Council and its residents, and the Department of Education and the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School, saying, “the support and cooperation of the different barangays and residents in our Covid-19 response efforts is vital in stopping or controlling the spread of the disease. This is a whole-of-government, whole-of-city approach, in fighting Covid-19.”
“Muchas gracias Department of Education and the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School, and the Santa Maria Barangay Council for your all-out support to the City's Covid-19 response by allowing the use of the gymnasium as a quarantine facility for suspected Covid-19 cases,” she added.
Climaco, who recently inspected the 100-bed facility, following preparations made by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the City Engineer's Office, also recognized the efforts of Barangay San Jose Gusu chairman Joel Esteban and Barangay Pasonanca chairman Efigenio Julian for hosting the local government’s isolation facilities.
The alarming increase in active Covid-19 cases here prompted the local government to put up more isolation and quarantine facilities to accommodate patients who do not require medical attention from hospitals and or medical facilities.
While Climaco continues with the construction of more isolation facilities, propagandists and social media trolls have also resumed their political attacks ahead of next year’s national polls, targeting the efforts of the local government to control the spread of the deadly virus.
Political propagandists resorted to spreading fake news and false information on facts about Covid-19 and even denounced the recently constructed 20-bed isolation facility in Barangay Pasonanca. The isolation facilities were constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to augment the existing quarantine facilities and mitigate the rapid spread of the respiratory virus.
The construction of the quarantine facility followed the standard designs and plans proposed by the DPWH in collaboration with the Department of Health. Three more tents will be constructed by DPWH with 30 more beds capacity.
The facility consists of two constructed tents with 20 beds capacity and is equipped with air conditioner units, adequate lighting and ventilation, uninterrupted electricity supply, potable water source and sewer line. It has separate doors intended for entrance and exit while a common toilet and bath is constructed adjacent to each tent.
The project was inaugurated by DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain and turned over to Climaco. This was also witnessed by DPWH Region 9 Director Cayamombao Dia and Assistant Director Honorato Saldua.
Climaco thanked DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and said the isolation facility, completed at the more opportune time, will go a long way in controlling further spread Covid-19.
But anti-Climaco propagandists said the isolation facility would put residents in Barangay Pasonanca at risk of being infected with Covid-19 because the “virus can jump out of the tent.” They also called on Pasonanca residents to oppose the project while others have “demonized” those living near the facility to protest it.
The spread of black propaganda, fake news and false information have alarmed Pasonanca residents and has prejudiced public tranquility.
Police have previously arrested dozens of people and filed charges against them for spreading fake news and unverified information on social media amid the pandemic. Those who spread fake news and false information can be charged with violations of the “Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as amended, concerning Sec 4c4 (online libel) and Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law.”
Violators face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000. They could also be punished under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and could be held for violating Presidential Decree Number 90 which makes rumor-mongering and spreading false information as unlawful because it may cause or tend to cause panic, divisive effects among the people, and undermine the stability of the government. (Zamboanga Post)
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