Members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Lanao del Norte gathered on Thursday, October 15, 2020, at the Multipurpose Building, Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza Provincial Government Center, Pigcarangan, Tubod, to present and endorse to the Council the 5% Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) for Calendar Year 2021 Annual Investment Plan (AIP) and the Lanao del Norte COVID-19 Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan for Calendar Year 2020-2021.

Governor Imelda ‘Angging’ Quibranza-Dimaporo, the PDDRMC Chairperson, expressed thanks to the members for making time to attend the important meeting to discuss amongst each other the persisting threat of COVID-19 and the actions or measures to take towards the road of rehabilitation and recovery.

The Governor appreciates the support of Provincial Director Bruce A. Colao of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in actively responding to the requests of the Provincial Government, especially when conducting coordination and consultation meetings with the Local Chief Executives and actively extending assistance by providing inputs and ideas per DILG’s guidelines when crafting Executive Orders and Provincial Ordinances.

Governor Angging also extends her gratitude to the Philippine Army, the Bureau of Fire and Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police for closely working along with the Incident Management Team by deploying personnel to help man our Quarantine Checkpoints strategically located at the provincial and regional boundaries together with the IMT personnel, and the Philippine Red Cross for providing necessary assistance to the effort of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte in the management of COVID-19.

Abeliza Manzano, the PDRRMO Officer, presented the 5% LDRRM Fund 2021 to the Council and discussed that the 30% of the 5% will be appropriated to the Quick Response Fund or standby fund for relief and recovery program, while the remaining 70% will be utilized to fund the programs, projects, and activities of the 4 Thematic Areas: Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and the Recovery and Rehabilitation Programs of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte.

And for the COVID-19 situational updates, Dr. Teresa M. Reponte, the Acting Provincial Health Officer, said that for now, the occupancy rate of Lanao del Norte Provincial Hospitals is low and the growth rate of COVID-19 cases for the past 2 weeks is minimal, and humbly reminded the Council members that with the coming of the cold months, COVID-19 thrives well in this season.

Provincial Information Officer and Incident Commander Lyndon G. Calica, presented the accomplishments and undertakings of the IMT in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.
Such as the establishments of Quarantine Checkpoints, regulating the issuance of Travel Pass and Clearance, implementation of Balik Lanorte Program, and regular conduct of enforcement activities to strengthen the implementation of the Executive Orders and Provincial Ordinances.

In anticipation of the influx of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), Governor Angging responded by creating additional isolation and quarantine facilities to accommodate RT PCR positive and RDT IgM positive patients, and those required to undergo the 14-day quarantine period.

To help those LSIs and ROFs who no longer have the financial capacity to spend on their travel tickets, the Provincial Government through the initiative of Governor Angging organized a sweeper flight from Metro Manila and Cebu to bring them back to Lanao del Norte, their home province and be with their loved ones in these trying times.

The establishment of the Provincial COVID-19 Testing Laboratory in the province, the brainchild of Governor Angging, is a game-changer for the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte in the fight against COVID-19, and the first Molecular Biology Laboratory in Region 10 financed by a Local Government Unit through the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces.

The active and close coordination, cooperation, and collaboration with various national government agencies with the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte under the leadership of Governor Angging and the support of the two District Representative, 1st District Congressman Mohamad Khalid Quibranza Dimaporo, and the father of peace and development, 2nd District Congressman Abdullah ‘Bobby’ Dimakuta Dimaporo together with the Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan chaired by Vice Governor Maria Cristina ‘Cristy’ N. Atay, strengthened the effort in keeping the general public safe and secured from the threat of COVID-19.

The Four (4) Thematic Areas of Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and Rehabilitation programs were also presented during the Council Meeting which helped the effort of the Provincial Government in dealing with the current health crisis.

Governor Angging is continuously reminding and appealing to the public to always follow the minimum health standards of the Department of Health by making a habit to wear a face mask, observance of social or physical distancing, frequent handwashing with soap or sanitize hands with alcohol, and wear a face shield when riding public transport vehicle, for these are the only simple and basic measures to protect oneself and loved ones from acquiring COVID-19. PIO-LDN