Gov’t out to flatten Covid-19 curve this month: Lorenzana

By Priam Nepomuceno

The government is determined to flatten the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) curve this September, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Sunday.

Lorenzana, also chair of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, made the statement during a Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) team visit in Caloocan City on Saturday.

“Our goal this month is to flatten the curve, or it is even better if we can decrease the curve so that we can go to MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine) after September where people’s lives are a little bit better,” Lorenzana said.

To flatten the curb, he said the local government units, especially the barangay (villages), must work closely with the national government which can provide the resources needed to implement the prescribed quarantine and bio-safety protocols. “The front-liners are our barangay officials who implement quarantine protocols, wearing of face masks, social distancing, sanitation, and other things that we need to do,” he said in a statement.

National Task Force Against Covid-19 chairman and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (File photo)

Lorenzana also participated in the ceremonial turnover of “Mask para sa Masa” for families in the locality, and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets and hygiene kits.

The visiting CODE Team was composed of representatives from NTFmember agencies led by Lorenzana, Department of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, and Department of Health Undersecretary Gerardo V. Bayugo.

Meanwhile, Caloocan City was led by its local chief executive, Mayor

Oscar Malapitan. “Mask Para sa Masa” is a face mask distribution project of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte which aims to provide 30 million locally-manufactured washable face masks to poor families in Covid-19 high-risk areas. (PNA)

EDITORIAL BOARD Executive Editor ABNER M. CAGA Associate Editor FRYAN E. ABKILAN Managing Editor NORA CL MOLDE Copy Editor VENUS LIM GARCIA Layout Artists RONNIE E. MADANGUIT JOHN CHARLES B. MALAZARTE Contributors JENNIFER P. GAITANO Agusan del Sur NIDA GRACE B. TRANQUILAN Surigao del Sur SUSIL D. RAGAS Surigao del Norte/Dinagat Islands DOREEN MARIELLE N. ROSALES Regional Office AURELIUS P. ARAIS FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES ANGEL LYN F. GAVIOLA CAPT. EDWIN LEO FRANCISCO LADE JEAN KABAGANI PRIAM NEPOMUCENO BRIX A. MERLIN MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR SHENA MAE PABIA AZER PARROCHA LT. KRISJUPER ANDREO PUNSALAN VANESSA P SANCHEZ PREXX MARNIE KATE TROZO AGUSAN UP, LGU ADN DOLE-SURIGAO DEL SUR 75IB-CMO, 3SFBN-CMO DA-CARAGA, DA13-RAFIS DOLE-SDN, MINDA,PNA, DOH Business Managers ZARINA O. LASTRA MARIESH F. CELEDEÑA MAY AMOR O. ALABADO Photographer ROBESPIERRE C. TRADIO RUDOLF BONNIN E. SANICO

Regional Office Jose Rosales Avenue, Butuan City piacaraga@gmail.com; pia_caraga@yahoo.com.ph (085) 341-5285; (085) 815-1991 Philippine Information Agency Caraga @PIACaraga

Information Centers

AGUSAN DEL NORTE

Jose Rosales Avenue, Butuan City (085) 815-1991 pia.northagusan@gmail.com PIA Agusan del Norte

AGUSAN DEL SUR

Provincial Government Center, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur 0917-723-3455 pia.agusandelsur@yahoo.com.ph PIA Agusan del Sur

SURIGAO DEL NORTE/DINAGAT ISLANDS

Parrucho corner Magallanes St., Surigao City (086) 826-9450 piasurigao@gmail.com PIA Surigao del Norte; PIA Dinagat Islands

SURIGAO DEL SUR

Old DPWH Bldg., Telaje, Tandag City (086) 211-3353 piasurigaosur@gmail.com; sds_pia@yahoo.com.ph PIA Surigao del Sur