State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet today announced that GSIS will provide financial assistance amounting to Php700,000 each to 11 government Local Isolation and General Treatment Areas for COVID-19 cases (LIGTAS COVID) centers.
The 11 LIGTAS COVID centers were identified based on Executive Order 112 (dated 30 April 2020), which imposed Enhanced Community Quarantine in high-risk geographic areas namely, National Capital Region, Region III or Central Luzon (except Aurora), Region IV-A or CALABARZON, Pangasinan, Benguet, Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod City, Davao City, Albay, and Zamboanga City.
A LIGTAS COVID center is a community isolation unit located within a barangay, municipality, city, or province that serves as a temporary shelter to COVID-19 cases who will require quarantine or isolation.
The pension fund chief explained that the initiative is in compliance with Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Proclamation 922, which order public institutions to mobilize resources and provide full assistance to programs that seek to eliminate the COVID-19 virus.
“This corporate social responsibility initiative aims to enable local government units to prevent further transmission and manage cases of COVID-19 at the family and community levels,” Macasaet said.
The financial assistance will help cover the purchase of identified requirements of the LIGTAS COVID centers based on the guidelines set under Proclamation 922, as well as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Department of Health (DOH) Joint Resolution No. 2020-0001.
These include supplies and resources such as patient care equipment, individual hygiene kits, handwashing facilities, oxygen support, and maintenance and supportive medication.
Each LIGTAS COVID Center will provide basic room and board; case management; monitoring and prompt referral at the first sign of clinical deterioration; and discharge instructions for continued home care and follow-up.
“The centers will be selected by lead agencies, DOH and DILG,” Macasaet said.
