City Mayors and DOH Meet Online to Tackle Local COVID-19 Testing


By LCP Secretariat
May 22, 2020 - Quezon City


Notwithstanding their busy schedules as government frontliners, city mayors, local health officers, and DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made themselves available on 22 May 2020 to tackle once and for all pressing LGU concerns on local health systems and testing for COVID-19.

 

Hosted by the COVID-19 Action Network Philippines (CAN) and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), the well-attended webinar on expanded and localized testing sought to clarify key issues surrounding COVID-19 testing and discuss ways to improve testing efforts at the LGU level.

 

It was organized at a time when calls for mass testing have been rampant and greater focus is placed on LGUs to fast-track the COVID-19 action plan of the national government.

 

CAN Lead Convenor Dr. Eddie Dorotan formally opened the forum by setting the agenda and commending LGUs for their efforts in responding to the pandemic.

 

“Saludo ho kami sa ginagawa niyo. You are the frontliners sa ating COVID fight at kung wala kayo, talagang mahihirapan tayo nito. At the end of the day, ang lahat ng gawain ay local,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, LCP public health officer and Candon City Mayor Eric Singson gave a few words on how the recent influx of OFW returnees in cities are affecting the capacity of LGUs to respond to the pandemic. He points out the need for sufficient testing in order to address this issue.

 

“It is essential to enhance local governments, specifically the cities’ testing capacity, wherein the majority or 63.7\\% of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded,” he said.

 

SALIENT POINTS ON EXPANDED TESTING

In her presentation, Usec. Vergeire clarified that “expanded testing” does not necessarily mean testing all individuals. Rather, this approach aims to test only those who are at risk of COVID infection.

 

Vergeire also bared the national government’s major strategies for expanded testing and cautioned LGUs on the use of rapid antibody tests. According to her, this only detects antibodies and not the actual virus itself. She adds that rapid testing must be conducted in conjunction with RT-PCR testing, which remains the gold standard for testing and reporting.

 

The Undersecretary was also patient in addressing the various questions and concerns raised by local chief executives during the open forum. Common themes that emerged during the Q&A portion include delayed results in PCR testing, improving local health facilities and testing machines, coordinating with regional hospitals, and the conduct of rapid testing among specific sectors in cities.

 

MOVING FORWARD

The webinar registered a total of 179 participants, including 66 city mayors. Due to the large number of attendees, Vergeire encouraged attendees to reach out to her office after the forum for urgent questions. She also expressed her willingness to continue discussions related to COVID-19 health response.

 

"Mas maayos po ito, nagkakaintindihan tayong lahat para po pare-pareho ang ating ginagawa. […] We will still have these kinds of discussions anytime po na imbitahan niyo kami," she said.

 

A recording of the webinar will soon be available at the CAN Facebook page at facebook.com/covidactionph. You may likewise visit the LCP Facebook page at facebook.com/PHcities for updates on upcoming initiatives related to local COVID-19 response.

Granting Authority to make Advance Payments for the Procurement of COVID-19 Vaccines
February 19, 2021
LOOK: Memorandum Order No. 51 signed by President Duterte granting the national government and local government units (LGUs) authority to make advance payments exceeding the 15\% limit for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Advocate
January 15, 2021
The Q1-Q2 2020 issue of our official newsletter features the League's mid-year accomplishments including our response to COVID-19.
 MEMO
Appeal for coordinated assistance to affected cities of Typhoon Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses
November 16, 2020
The unprecedented landfall of three (3) tropical storms in three weeks or from October 25 to November 11 in the country has greatly affected our cities from Luzon. Based on the available Situational Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 64 cities have been affected by Typhoon Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses.
Roundtable Consultation on Metropolitan Transport with Clean Air Asia
October 22, 2020
We invite you to an online consultation with Clean Air Asia on 27 October 2020 (Tuesday), from 2:30 to 6:15 p.m., to deepen the conversation on the importance of establishing and reorganizing transport authorities and executives.
 FEATURE CITY