DEALING WITH COVID-19: FIGHT AGAINST SCIENCE OR BE HERD IMMUNITY OR BOTH IN ORDER TO TURN R NAUGHT TO LESS THAN 1

Baguio will try to turn the R naught to less than 1 (R0<1) against COVID-19.

The basic reproduction number (R0 or R naught) of COVID-19 is between 2 and 3 which means 2 or 3 persons can be infected by 1 COVID-19 positive. Ways to turn the R naught to less than 1 are primarily:

1. The herd immunity. It is a sacrificial mitigation tool to control this disease (COVID-19) while the vaccine or medical cure is still a year away, a place may try not to succumb to COVID-19 by boosting the many's immune systems and then them all become shields of others against the COVID-19 virus. With the herd immunity able to produce antibodies against the virus, the former may also cause benign mutation of the latter for its containment.

2. Quarantine. Applying quarantine may control the spread of the virus by locking down a specific area where COVID-19 is positive. Inside the locked-down area, a lot of protocols, rules, and policies must be implemented such as social distancing, wearing of facemask / PPE's, washing hands with soap and/or applying disinfectant from time to time, isolation, targeted mass testing, contact tracing, and etc. in view of containing the spread of the virus.

3. The combination of the two. Both building herd immunity and quarantine can be applied at a time with some reservations of factors to make measures workable or more effective and efficient.

MARCH 25, 2020 | FIRST DAY OF CITY PUBLIC MARKET WINDOW HOUR IMPLEMENTATION FOR MIDDLE QUIRINO HILL

Before anyone could go out to buy essential needs from the city public market, he/she should avail Home Quarantine Pass (HQP) from the Barangay Hall to serve as entry pass to the city market. The Barangay Hall will issue one form for every household, thus, there is only one person who may go out to buy essential needs from the city market. Worker's Home Quarantine Pass is also available for those who are going out to work especially the informal worker who does not have employee I.D. card and/or company certification.

After securing their quarantine passes from the Barangay Hall, the residents must queue at the staging area where two PUJ's would transport them to the public market and vice-versa. The residents, while being outside, must always observe one meter distance from the other persons, always wear facemasks, and practice good hygiene.

MARCH 25, 2020 | THE MIDDLE QUIRINO HILL BPOC RELEASES UPDATE ON BARANGAY RESPONSE AGAINST COVID-19

> 24 hours pong bawal ang palakad-lakad sa labas ng bahay na wala naman pong hustong pupuntahan, this will cause an arrest po kaya manatili po lang sa loob ng bahay kung kinakailangan.

> Yun pong nangangailangan ng emergency medical care, meron pong established na special taxi service na pwedeng asahan, ang hotline po ay 09236207038, tawagan lang po ito para makakuha kayo ng taxi during medical emergency, exception po ay kung extreme o grabe na pong kailangan ang pagdala sa ospital ang isang pasyente, kailangan na pong gumamit ng mahahagilap nyong sasakyan, ang rationale po ay kontrolado lang po sana ang mga taxi na dumadaan sa kalsada.

> Motorcycles and bicycles ay pwede pong gamitin para pumunta sa importanteng pupuntahan, bawal lang po ang angkas.

> Sa mga PUJ's po na binigyan ng travel permit ng barangay para makapag transport ng mga commuters sa sinasakupang brgy, meron din po sanang issued special permits ng bcpo kung saan merong validity dates na naka indicate, at ang signed banner ng city mayor na nakalagay sa harap or hood ng bawat sasakyan allowing the vehicle to travel within the city as special service ay nakakabit po sana para kita kaagad.

> Ang sunday po ay lockdown day, close ang city public market, wala din pong lalabas ng bahay, yun lang pong may medical emergencies ang pinapayagang lumabas, at ang vital establishments such as grocery stores and drugstores po sa labas ng city public market ay nananatiling open para sa mga kailangan ng medical emergencies at mga taong nasa malapit, sa mga residential brgys ay pwede pong magbukas ang mga sari sari stores kaya yung bibili lang po sana ang lumalabas ng bahay.

> Yung mga inuman, uulitin nanaman po natin na panahon po ngayon ng crisis, maraming nahihirapan na sa sitwasyon ngayon, itigil po muna yan at magnilay-nilay. Kung hindi po gagawin ng gobyerno ang ginagawa ngayon ay tatamaan po tayo ng plague na kagaya ng black death na nangyari sa europa ilang siglo na ang nakakaraan..or baka po mas higit pa ang mangyayari, kaya wag pong katigasan ng ulo ang pairalin kundi ang kaligtasan po ng pamilya, ng ibang malapit na tao ating buhay, at ng buong community.

- Maraming salamat po and remain covid-19 free always.

MARCH 24, 2020 | HOME QUARANTINE PASS (HQP) OR EMERGENCY HOME QUARANTINE PASS (EHQP) AND OTHER ECQ / GCQ PASSES

The HQP / EHQP will be used to buy essential needs from the Baguio City Public Market. The barangay hall will issue this form per household only, thus, as much as possible there should only be one person to go out to the market during the window hour schedule of the barangay. For Middle Quirino Hill, the window hour is 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This form will be effective throughout the period of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), in this case, from its effectivity (March 24, 2020) to April 30, 2020.

OTHER REQUIRED FORMS PEOPLE's MOVEMENT:

TRAVEL PERMIT. It is required by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) for every person to travel (with or wihtout vehicle) within the city of Baguio with the purpose/s to: buy foods/groceries, transact at the bank/financial institution, pay bills/laundry, avail medical needs, access health care facilities, and/or to go to work. Available from the Barangay Hall.

PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLE-JITNEY BARANGAY PASSAGE and TRAVEL NOTIFICATION is given to only 2 PUJ's per barangay to transport those who will buy essential needs from the City Public Market and those who will go to work such as the frontliners, skeletal force members, force multipliers, etc. Available from the Barangay Hall.

SPECIAL TRAVEL CLEARANCE is a document required by BHERT (Barangay Health Emergency Response Team) for those who will use private vehicles going out of Baguio City. This will certify that the any of the passengers is not a PUM (Person Under Monitoring) or PUI (Person Under Investigation). It is also a condition for every passenger to conform with the policies, rules, and the protocols issued by the national government and the local government unit of their destination. Available from the Barangay Hall.

HEALTH DECLARATION FORM. It is a travel clearance from the health office to travel within the city of Baguio. This will specify the destination of the bearer, it also declares that the bearer has no symptom of COVID-19, and did not just came from abroad or any area outside Baguio.

MARCH 23, 2020 | BPOC RELEASES UPDATE ON BARANGAY RESPONSE IN PREVENTING COVID-19 OUTBREAK

The BPOC, BDRRMC and BHERT joined in information dissemination within the barangay regarding community response against COVID-19 by using the megaphone and posting of IEC materials in front of sari-sari stores: 

"Magandang Araw Po Sa Ating Lahat, Mga Kabarangay!"

- Bawal po ngayon ang mag inuman ng alak sa labas ng bahay, hinuhuli po ng pulis at ng barangay ang ma-aktuhang umiinom ng alak sa labas ng bahay as per our City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Hindi rin po tino-tolerate o pinapayagan ang paglalabas ng bahay ng hindi naman kinakailangan at ang pagkumpol-kumpol ng mga tao sa mga tindahan, kanto at iba pang public places sa barangay."

- Ang schedule po natin sa Baguio City Public Market ay status quo, yung dati pa rin po, di pa po nagbago.

- Ang mga sari-sari stores po ay kailangang open na lamang from 5 A.M. to 8 P.M. po.

- Para po sa mga displaced workers pero hindi napasama sa listahan na nauna nang naisubmit sa DSWD, paki-approach po ang barangay kagawad na sumsakop sa inyong purok para sabihin na kayo ay displaced workers para kung may next na intake/submission of names for food packs ay kasali na po kayo.

- For motorcycles, bawal angkas na daw po ngayon dahil sa daming nag-aangkas ay grossly violated na daw po ang social distancing na isang protocol ng ECQ. Bawal ang angkas na daw po ngayon.

- Reiterating that everyone must always observe social distancing of at least 1 meter from each other and kung kayo naman po ay lalabas gamit ang sasakyan ay panatilihin ang 1 seat apart inside the vehicle, always wear facemask and always use disinfectant especially before and after touching gadgets or things na madalas hinahawakan din ng ibang tao gaya ng ATM keypad, door knobs, railings, atbp.

- Reiterating also na 24 hours curfew po para sa mga bata, naka home quarantine po dapat sila hangga't maaari, Sa mga adults naman po, ang paglabas lang po sana ay upang bumili ng basic needs, magtrabaho, o kung merong medical emergency. Mas lalo lang po tayong mai-istriktohan kung di natin sundin ang mga rules, guidelines, and protocols ng enhanced community quarantine, Luzon lockdown, at ng national state of calamity.

- Marami pong nagtatanong kung may facemask sa brgy hall for distribution, wala po, yung wala pong facemask, pwede pong pantakip sa bibig at ilong ang scarf, panyo, at ibang cloth na nilagyan ng cord o tali upang hindi madaling matanggal.

- Ngayong sunday po ay open ang ating brgy hall for transaction and monitoring with regards to the enhanced community quarantine and the national calamity status ng bansa, kung may transaction po kayo sa barangay hall ay pwede po kayong pumunta duon provided po na sundin nyo ang ECQ protocols at kung maaari ay isang tao lang per household ang pumunta duon.

- Kung mananatili pong matigas ang ating ulo at hindi sinusunod ang mga inilalatag na panuntunan ay baka po mas lalong tatagal ang lockdown at quarantine ng community, at baka po mas lalong maghihigpit ito o kaya ay ma-lockdown ang  buong barangay, kaya sumunod na lang po tayo and police your own family, kins and friends po.

- Salamat and stay COVID-19 free always."

PHOTOS: BPOC-CRPOS-BDRRMC announcing ECQ protocols and updates, posting of IEC materials at the different establishments in the barangay, the BHERT in action, and registration of residents going outside the community or city:

MARCH 21, 2020 | BPOC RELEASES UPDATES ON ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE RULES, AND GOVERNMENT AID PROVISIONS

BPOC Social Media Post on MArch 21, 2020: 

"- Iwasan po muna natin ang mga labis na pag-iinom ng alak with barkadas sa loob ng bahay, sa araw at gabi, sa gitna ng kalamidad, ipinagbabawal na din po ang ganyan, show your symphaty po for those who are greatly affected, marami pong hindi na sapat ang kinakain dahil sa problema sa COVID-19. Kung maaari, kung gusto nyo po, ay ibigay na lang po natin sa mga nangangailangan ang cash na ating ibinibili ng alak, bukas naman po ang barangay hall na tumanggap ng donations para sa mga mas grabe pang nasalanta ng kalamidad na ito sa ating kumunidad, mas mabuti na po ito kesa sa mabote 😀 At, marami din naman pong diversion na pwedeng gawin habang naka home or community quarantine - imbis na uminum ng alak ay maglinis, magbasa ng mga librong matagal ng hindi binubuklat, i-repair ang sirang furnitures, atbp."

- Sa mga sari-sari stores naman po sa barangay, for your own good and other people po ay sana mag-lagay din po ng signage sa harap ng establisyemento nyo na: "Observe Social Distancing" at kung maaari pati na rin po ang: "No Facemask (abungot), No entrance/transaction", hindi po ito over-reactive, ito po ay hustong measures lang para maiwasan ang maaaring transmission of disease lalo na ang COVID-19.

- Pati nga rin po mga pets like dogs, cats, etc. ay i-quarantine o ikulong na lang sa loob ng bahay dahil sa zoonotic characteristic ng virus na sanhi ng COVID-19.

- Para po sa tulong xng gobyerno for displaced workers, not all will be given daw po, hindi po kasi qualified displaced workers ang na-intake na iba dahil maaari din silang naka work at home, at meron ding hindi na-intake ang pangalan na totoong displaced workers dahil wala siya nuong panahon ng pag-intake, we're given limited but sapat na oras na rin po nu'ng tayo ay nag-intake ng displaced workers pero wala po talaga kayo nuon kaya ang recommended po sa inyo ay magtungo po sa barangay hall kung naniniwala kayong qualified kayo as displaced workers."

PHOTOS: Kag. Pedro Dasing doing a house-to-house activity to intake displaced workers due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

THE WORLD WILL PRAY AGAINST COVID-19

In your love, Lord, we bring the world..
In your love, the world will be alright -
You watch us when the sun rises,
Like admiring the fresh lushful morning..
You watch us at the end of the day
When we rest ourselves in your abode night..
What more if we stand up to the adversary
For your glory and grace?

MARCH 20, 2020 | BPOC UPDATE ON ECQ IN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE MIDDLE QUIRINO HILL BARANGAY

- Ang Special Travel Clearance (STC) po ay pipirmahan ng mga magta-travel outside the Baguio City, ito po ay magse-certify na ang isang tao na nakasulat sa clearance na ito ay hindi person under monitoring (PUM) o hindi person under investigation ng barangay, na sila po ay sumusunod sa mga rules and protocols na inilatag ng mga awtoridad in line with the enhanced community quarantine and measures against COVID-19, na ito po ay inisyu ng authorized person sa barangay nagpapatunay na tama ang lahat na nakalagay na datus dito.

- Reiterating po na 24 hours ang curfew sa mga bata (below 18) kaya po habang maaari ay wag palabasin sa mga kalsada o anumang public places dahil under calamity status ang bansa.

- Ang paglabas po ng bahay kung maaari ay iwasan muna except only kung bibili ng pagkain at mga basic needs, o kung may medical emergency - ito po ay measure upang ma-prevent ang transmission o contracting of diseases, especially the dreaded COVID-19.

- Nagro-ronda po ang ating mga tanods, night and day, upang i-enforce o i-implement ang mga ordinances, enhanced community quarantine and COVID-19 prevention rules and protocols, and of course the law in the barangay.

- Ang BHERT o Barangay Health Emergency Response Team ay nasa entrance po ng barangay hall upang mag monitor ng mga in and out na constituents sa barangay hall.

- Ang tamang paraan po ng pag-ubo during contagious disease outbreak ay ang mga sumusunod:

* Takpan ang ilong o bibig gamit ang braso o tisyu,
* itapon ang ginamit na tisyu sa basurahan,
* ugaliin ang mag hugas ng kamay pagkatapos umubo o bumahin 

   (ang dali lang naman po)

- Thanks and remain COVID-19 free always po.

MARCH 18, 2020: BPOC-TANODS CONDUCTED ANOTHER INFORMATION DISSEMINATION REGARDING ECQ

The Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC) under Kag. Pedro Dasing performed another information dissemination regarding the being enfroced Enhanced Community Quarantine to the residents through the use of megaphone: 

"MAGANDANG ARAW PO MGA KABARANGAY!"

ANG ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE po ay kasali ang mga sumusunod:

- Closed po muna ang mga computer shops, billiard halls, at iba pang frequently visited places except sari-sari stores at iba pang binibilhan ng mga basic and essential needs sa bahay.

- 24 hours din po na naka home quarantine ang mga bata o minors (aged below 18).

- Parati pong naka facemask lalo na pag lumabas na ng bahay.

- Panatilihin po ang social distancing ng isang metro mula sa ibang tao kung maaari lalo na sa labas ng bahay.

- Panatilihin din po ang good personal hygene which are the use of disinfectant from time to time and washing of hands with soap regularly.

- Lalabas lang po ng bahay kung kailangan.

- Please, have time to research po at sundin ang mga patakaran ng enhanced community quarantine and how to fight/prevent COVID-19 while in quarantine.

- Ang kooperasyon at pagsunod po ng lahat sa mga patakaran ay magdudulot ng tagumpay ng lahat laban sa sakit na COVID-19.

- Maraming salamat po at magandang araw po muli."

PUNONG BARANGAYS - QUIRINO HILL OPERATORS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS MEETING

MARCH 18, 2020. Because of the suspension of mass / public transportation during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, the city allowed only 2 Jitneys / Jeepneys to operate per barangay with special permit signed by City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Because of the suspension, the punong barangays of 5 barangays (Middle Quirino Hill, West Quirino Hill, East Quirino Hill, Lower Quirino Hill, and Camdas Subdivision) covered by Quirino Hill Operators and Drivers Association (QODA) operation conducted meeting with the latter. The results of the meeting were:

- 2 PUJ's per barangay, except Camdas which shall have only PUJ to operate.

- No mask, no ride.

- Passengers must sit 1 seat apart inside the Jeepney.

- Drivers would only allow commuters to ride who are in their lists (barangay residents lists) which shall be provided by the barangay.

- PUJ's shall prioritize those who would buy basic needs from the city market.

- PUJ's operation shall be from 5:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.

- Staging areas shall be depend on the barangay. Normally, it is in front of the Barangay Hall and at Lakandula Street in the Central Business District (CBD).

- For taxi, it shall be for on-call basis only, and available for those who will work and for medical emergency. Residents may call their barangay hall to ask those who have acquired permit for on-call basis from their barangay hall.

- Those who would walk going to the CBD must wear their valid I.D. cards.

PHOTOS: Barangay Captains of Middle Quirino Hill, West Quirino Hill, East Quirino Hill, Lower Quirino Hill, Cambdas Subd., and the drivers/operators of the QODA and taxi based in the said barangays.

MARCH 17, 2020: START OF IMPLEMENTING ECQ IN THE BARANGAY LEVEL

The BPOC-Tanods went out to the community to inform the residents through the megaphone and the social media regarding the "Enhanced Community Quarantine" being implemented by the city to every barangay and its residents:

"Sa lahat po ng lalabas ng barangay na pupunta sa ibang lugar inside or outside Baguio City o papasok sa barangay galing sa ibang lugar within or outside the city, maaari lang pong magsadya sa ating Barangay Hall para pumirma ng Baguio City Health Declaration Form. Ito po ay mandatory as precautionary measure by the City of Baguio against the transmission of COVID-19, pursuant to Proclamation No. 922, March 8, 2020, and Section 16 of the Local government Code."

Ipinaa-alala lang po na iwasan na rin pong lumabas ng Barangay kung hindi naman po importante ang sasadyahin sa labas ng ating lugar. Meron pong pinakamalapit na sattelite market or talipapa sa ating lugar or kalapit-lugar na puwedeng puntahan para sa basic na pangangailangan o food supplies. Meron na din pong ginagawang hakbang ang Gobyerno upang mabigyan solusyon ang mga iba pang isyu o problemang naidulot ng enhanced community quarantine katulad ng kabuhayan, atbp.

Pinagbabawal na din po ang paglalabas-labas ng mga bata at paglalaro sa mga public places, wala pong silbi ang pag suspende ng klase ng mga bata kung hinahayaan din naman po nating pakalat-kalat sila sa mga hindi safe or secured na lugar dahil declared na pong under calamity status na ang siyudad ng Baguio.

Sa mga drivers ng public transportation, mga workers ng mga nag-close na establishments, at iba pang displaced workers dahil sa quarantine, makipag-ugnayan lang po sa mga barangay officials, volunteers and functionalities upang mailista po ang inyong mga pangalan.

Para po sa mga magta-trabaho pa rin, meron pong dalawang dyip lang na mago-operate kada araw per barangay na pwedeng masakyan, kinakailangan lang po na magsuot ng facemask kung lalabas na ng bahay. Kailangan din pong pumunta muna sa Barangay Hall upang ilista ang pangalan at kung saan pupunta para ma-monitor ang movement ng labas-pasok ng barangay.

Thanks and keep COVID-19 free always po."

MINI-RALLY / PARADE AGAINST COVID-19 OUTBREAK BY MIDDLE QUIRINO HILL BPOC-TANODS

ON MARCH 15, 2020, just before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Luzon ender "General Community Quarantine", the BPOC-Tanods and some few school children performed mini rally / parade at Tapaw, Middle Qurino Hill against the proliferation of COVID-19, that they wanted everyone to be aware how dangerous is COVID-19 and how to at least slowdown or even prevent the outbreak.

During their parade, they distributed flyers and played infomercials through the megaphone regarding on how to prevent or fight the COVID-19 by personal hygiene, physical distancing, and by always wearing facemask.

CODE RED SUBLEVEL 2 for the PHILIPPINES on March 16, 2020

MARCH 16, 2020. Philippine President Duterte declared the entire Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) which effects a total lockdown, restricting the movement of the population but with exceptions, in response to the growing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

Alternatively, the whole country has a code red sublevel 2 which is the level of alarm where LGU's, especially in Luzon which is under ECQ. This means the LGU's would initiate their moves to help contain the spread of disease in their jurisdictions like using their Quick Response Funds (QRF's), conducting checkpoints, etc. 

The declaration created snowball effects on the different political places in Luzon area, locking down their borders with exceptions to those who want to pass with travel permits. In Baguio, City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong signed Executive Order 65 s, 2020 declaring Baguio under citywide community quarantine to prevent the possible entry of  COVID-19 which sought the help of the PNP and AFP to enforce ECQ guidelines and to conduct checkpoints at the borders and within the city. Middle Quirino Hill Barangay officials, volunteers and functionaries conducted their regular meeting in the late noon of March 16,2020 and discussed the ECQ declaration and its guidelines that affected the daily normal activities of the people, the community, and the whole City of Baguio. During the meeting, Kagawad on Peace and Order Pedro Dasing proposed their committee resolution for the approval of the closure of View Deck, whereas, the council has approved it at once.

MIDDLE QUIRINO HILL BPOC TARPS 2020

TARPS 2020:

VISUALS. Visuals can help overcome language barriers because images often convey universal messages that written words cannot.

U.B. NSTP 2020 PAINTED "INABEL" DESIGNS ON THE VIEW DECK'S POSTS

Through the approval of Middle Quirino Hill Punong Barangay Dr. Ignacio Gallente and the Barangay Council, the U.B. NSTP Engineering and Architecture Students 2020, led by Ma'am Jullien to painted "inabel" designs and green colors on the view deck structures. The activity was coordinated by the school with the Barangay through SK Mimi while the "inabel" designs were suggested by by Kag. Pedro Dasing. The whole painting activity was finished on March 7, 2020

In this regard, in behalf of the Middle Quirino Hill officialdom, Bantay-Viewdeck members and the residents near the facility, thank you very, very much to the U.B. NSTP 2020.

Bantay-Viewdeck / MQHEAL Ass'n:

Petal by petal a rose is formed,
Stone by stone a wall is created..
Step by step a thing is made

(y)