Magalong reminds barangays of BHERTs functions
- highland360
- Mar 14, 2020
- 2 min read
Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed Executive Order No. 33, series of 2020 on March 11 to remind the 129 barangays in Baguio city to fully activate, mobilize, and deploy their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs).
BHERTs will lead the implementation of strict measures against the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in their respective barangays.
According to the Public Information Office-City of Baguio, Magalong already released the executive order activating BHERTs in every barangay last February 14. However, he later on found out that some barangays failed to comply and carry out their duties.
Magalong signed the executive order this week to remind the barangay officials of their functions.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong emphasized the actions taken by the city government in reaching out to barangay leaders in strengthening the city’s campaign against COVID-19 during the “Ugnayan with Mayor Benjie Magalong” on March 11.
“Nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa ating mga punong barangay parai-make sure na talagang fully activated na yung kanilang BHERTs. And at the same time, we make sure na ‘yung kanilang monitoring and surveillance system, enhanced na dapatyan,” Magalong said.
(We reached out to our barangay captains to make sure that their BHERTs are fully activated. And at the same time, we make sure that their monitoring and surveillance systems arealready enhanced.)
The executive order requires barangay captains to appoint an executive officer, one barangay tanod, one barangay health worker, one barangay nutrition officer, and one barangay nutrition scholar to compose the BHERTs. They should also have at least one registered nurse or midwife as their member.
Despite this, the number of members can be increased depending on the need and number of residents in the barangay.
BHERTs will implement the guidelines as stated in DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-018, and in the 2019-nCoV Inter-Agency Task Force Plan.
Section 3 of the executive order lists down the functions of the barangay units. The BHERTs’ duties are as follows:
a. Keep a list of persons arriving in the barangay from areas declared to have the 2019-nCoV;
b. Submit said list to the 2019-nCoV Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF);
c. Enforce a 14-day home confinement period for persons arriving from 2019-nCOV affect areas, in coordination with the DOH;
d. Extend assistance and support to persons undergoing 14-day home confinement;
e. Refer and transport suspected 2019-nCoV carriers to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Centers, in coordination with the DOH and other police authorities;
f. Conduct regular barangay-wide cleanup campaigns;
g. Conduct a barangay-wide information dissemination campaign to educate residents on proper hygiene and sanitation practices, in accordance with the guidelines as provided by the DOH;
h. Provide a Barangay Information center or hotline to facilitate, collate, and record all reports of suspected 2019-nCoV carriers and person with whom they have come into contact;
i. Prepare status reports of the performance and activities ofthe BHERTs, and submit said reports to the 2019-nCoV IATF;
j. Coordinate with the 2019-nCoV IATF to ensure that all necessary protocols and guidelines are completely and efficiently carried out.
As of March 14, 2020, Provincial Task Force Coronavirus Chairperson Governor Jocelyn Bernos announced that the first confirmed case in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is a resident from Abra who tested positive from COVID-19.
Sources:
PIO City of Baguio: https://www.facebook.com/pio.baguio/posts/521264911858969
By: Valerie Nuval
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