DAVAO CITY, Dec. 29 (PIA) - Kiblawan Mayor Carl Jason Rama has underscored the importance of an intensified information drive in defeating the corona virus disease (COVID-19).

The local government unit of Kiblawan located in the province of Davao del Sur has done all efforts in maintaining the low case in the municipality.

Rama stated during the Laging Handa Network Briefing episode that a good information dissemination drive about the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) protocols the LGU's guidelines is one way of containing the spread of COVID-19 in the municipality.

He said that they hold regular meetings with the barangay officials and also visit the business establishments to check if they are following the protocols and complying and following the ordinance of the province that requires all residents in the province of Davao del Sur to register to the Davao del Sur Contact Tracing System (DS-CCTS).

He has also mandated all barangay officials to strictly follow the protocols coming from the IATF, all the executive orders released by the municipality and ordinances regarding COVID-19.

Rama added that the LGU has also managed to give financial assistance to the barangay officials because they are disqualified for the cash assistance offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) such as the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), Social Amelioration Card (SAC) and the Livelihood Assistance Grants (LAG).

"At the same time isa po sa ginawa namin is natulungan din namin yung mga barangay officials sa expenses nila. (At the same time, we also helped the barangay officials in their expenses)," he stated.

He also said that the LGU is maintaining ten (10) checkpoints managed by the Police and Army which have been provided with gadgets for the scanning of QR codes for those who are entering the municipality.

Rama is also encouraging his constituents and the neighboring municipalities and provinces to observe the protocols given by the IATF and also follow the BIDA Solusyon campaign of the government to fight against COVID-19.

He emphasized that even though the municipality has recorded minimal cases of COVID-19, all protocols and executive orders mandated by the national, provincial and local government should be strictly implemented.

"...dapat po always nating ilagay sa ating utak yun na dapat di tayo relax na kahit zero na dito yung case sa Kiblawan kailangan meron talaga kaming strict implementation (we shouldn't be relaxed just because we have zero case in Kiblawan, we should still follow the protocols and strictly implement them)," Rama stated. (PIA-XI/Samantha Jabol)