Pampanga Gov. Dennis G. Pineda briefs media after PDRRMC meeting. Photo by Bong Lacson
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A state of calamity has been declared in Pampanga where are three confirmed cases and one mortality due to Covid-19.
The sangguniang panlalawigan presided by Vice Gov. Lilia G. Pineda passed on March 16 Resolution 6102 declaring the entire province under a state of calamity “to address, contain, and prevent the spread of [Covid-19] and its ill effects and impact on the people.”
It cited as one principal reason for the declaration the three confirmed cases and one death recorded in the province last week.
Last March 13, Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda announced the first Covid-19 case in Pampanga dubbed as PAMP1, a Grab driver that plied the Clark Freeport and Pampanga routes. He was reported to have been confined in a Metro Manila hospital.
The second patient, PAMP 2, worshipped in a prayer room in San Juan and was exposed to one confirmed case. PAMP 2 is now confined, quarantined, and being treated at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, a facility managed by the Department of Health.
The dead patient dubbed PAMP 3 was reported by the Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the City of San Fernando through an official statement released on Saturday and confirmed by the DOH. Admitted on March 9, he died on March 11 but the test results confirmed the infection on the night of March 13.
The state of calamity resolution authorized Gov. Pineda “to utilize and disburse such amount/s from the Quick Response Fund of the province primarily for the aid, medicine, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other works or services to calamity affected communities/areas of Pampanga.
Helping LGUs
In a press briefing at the sidelights of a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting last Monday, Pineda assured the local government units of assistance from the provincial government even as he enjoined them to also use their own calamity funds in their respective initiatives against the spread of Covid-19.
Pineda cited Apalit Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. for “filling the need” of his alcohol-deprived constituents. Tetangco has been distributing bottles of alcohol produced by the Apalit–based Far Eastern Alcohol Corp.
The governor also lauded Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Laztin for his series of directives –from the closure of entertainment and non-essential establishments, curfew, four-day work week, to the non-entry of buses to the city – to contain Covid-19.
“Pinapakiusapan ko po ang ating mga mayors na paigtingin ang lahat ng kanilang mga pagsisikap upang labanan ang Covid-19 sa lahat ng lugar sa Pampanga,”he said.
Moratorium
The state of calamity declaration will also help in the declaration of a moratorium on the payment of real property taxes, according to Pineda.
This, even as he said that he would appeal to public utilities companies to also suspend billings and penalties for the duration of the state of public emergency owing to Covid-19.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa ating mga hirap na kababayan at hindi naman malaking kawalan sa mgakumpanya ng tubig, kuryente, at telcos,” Pineda said.
Food security
With the then still looming enhanced community quarantine order of President Duterte, the governor said he has scheduled a dialog with food producers, including hog and poultry raisers, and food processingcompanies to assure the food security of the Capampangans.
“Sisiguraduhin po natin na bukas ang mga palengke at supermarkets at may bibilhin ang ating mga kababayan para sa pangaraw-araw nilang pangangailangan,”Pineda assured.
While he said that he was personally against any lockdown for the province, he would abide by any decision or order by President Duterte.
