By Fernan Angeles
BINANGONAN, Rizal — The local government has finally found a formula to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the locality, including the 17 island barangays of Talim, off Laguna de Bay.
Municipal Administrator Russel Callanta Ynares hinted at what he described as simple but an effective and proven formula mechanism to keep their local folks at home, thus keeping them away from being exposed to the virus.
By providing every household’s needs – from the essentials to non-essentials, the local government embarked on a strategy that allows local folks to shop for everything that is available in their locality and delivered right on their doorsteps – payable upon arrival of the goods.
“Kami na namamalengke para sa mga residente ng bayan ng Binangonan. Sa ganung paraan, malaki ang naging bawas ng bilang ng mga taong nasa labas ng kani-kanilang tahanan – kasi nga naman wala nang dahilan para pumunta pa sila sa mga matataong lugar kung saan pwede pa sila mahawa,” Ynares said in a message exchange over the chat box.
Ynares explained that the mechanism he referred to as e-palengke and e-botika, did not only allow the displaced passenger-hailing tricycle and motorcycle drivers to earn amid government restrictions, it also made shopping possible without actually going to places to shop.
The LGU’s e-botika provides free medicines and free delivery for senior citizens and persons with disability.
Under both mechanisms, local folks would only have to send a message online to the Binangonan Action Center – Volunteer Group which receives orders via their official Facebook page.
Citing figures, Ynares said that of their 40 barangays, 22 have already been declared as COVID-19 free. The remaining areas, except for a few, have significantly reduced active cases to just a single digit, he added.
Ferryboats, which are the only means of public transportation going in and out of the island, have been prohibited from ferrying passengers starting the re-imposed modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) over Metro Manila, including the province of Rizal.
Ynares said the temporary ban on the 40-seater boat operations was also recommended by the island’s representative in the Sangguniang Bayan.
Of the 17 villages on Talim Island, only Barangay Binitagan has an active COVID-19 case.
Ynares also hinted at the strict border-to-border screening to prevent transmission of the virus from external sources.