STA. CRUZ, Laguna – The province of Laguna, which used to be one of the COVID-19 hotspots in earlier months, is now among areas with the lowest COVID-19 active cases and rising as the LGU with the highest COVID-19 recovery rate at 91%.
During the Pagdalaw sa Laguna: “Explain, Explain, Explain” conference on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar lauded the development of the COVID-19 situation in Laguna.
The said conference aims to present and bring closer to the people the programs and services of the national government amid the pandemic, and provide an avenue for stakeholders to acquire and share updates on the COVID-19 situation of the locality.
“Kailangan po natin maipakita sa buong Pilipinas kung gaano po kagaling ang Laguna na maresolba ang kaso ng COVID-19. We need to inspire yung iba pang probinsya sa labas ng Laguna at maipakita kung paano nagkakaisa ang LGUs dito. We should show the entire Philippines how united we are laban sa COVID-19 [We need to show the whole Philippines how well Laguna handled the COVID-19 cases. We need to inspire other provinces outside of Laguna and show that LGUs are united here. We should show the entire Philippines how united we are against COVID-19],” he said.
“But more than anything, it is really to send the symbol of hope, symbol of a united front and also para maipakita natin na mayroong mga ehemplo na pwedeng tularan ng iba pang lalawigan sa buong Pilipinas [But more than anything, it is really to send the symbol of hope, symbol of a united front and also to show that there are good examples that can be emulated by other provinces all over the Philippines],” he added.
In previous months, high numbers of COVID-19 infections were reported in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, prompting the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF COVID-19) to designate Cabinet members to oversee said areas.
Secretary Andanar is the designated “Big Brother” of the anti-COVID coordination for Laguna, linking gaps among LGUs and state agencies and ensuring synchronized COVID-19 responses.
As of November 3, 2020, Laguna recorded 15,300 coronavirus infections, of which 1,063 are active cases however with no reported patients under severe condition. The province logged 13,925 recoveries and 312 fatalities.
The PCOO chief assured that aside from COVID-19, the government maintains commitment to assist and respond to areas affected by typhoons and the pandemic, while bringing timely information needed in emergency cases and dismissing disinformation.
“Sa gitna ng unos, naniniwala kami na ang involved public is an informed public. Kaya kami sa Presidential Communications Operations Office at aming attached agencies ay walang tigil at walang kapaguran sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga responses, actions, at programs ng administrasyong Duterte para mabawasan ang epekto ng COVID-19 at ng maiwasan ang mga di inaasahang sakuna mula sa mga bagyo at iba pang mga kalamidad [Amid the storm, we believe that an involved public is an informed public. So we at the Presidential Communications Operations Office and our attached agencies are relentless and tireless in disseminating information about the responses, actions, and programs of the Duterte administration to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and to prevent unforeseen accidents from storms and other calamities,” he said.
Key officials present during the conference include the Department of Health (DOH) Director Beverly Ho, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Director Irene Dumlao, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Sarah Arriola, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Roldan Gorgonio, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, Small Business Corporation (SBCorp.) Strategy for Policy and Systems Sector Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Josefina Flores, and the Regional Task Force Against COVID-19
