The City Government of Malaybalay through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) conducted a media forum on July 29, 2020 dubbed as Kapihan 2020 anchored on the theme: “Sama-samang Pagsulong Tungo sa Katatagan sa Gitna ng Bagong Normal.”

The event held at Loiza’s, Casisang in observance of the Disaster Resilience Month was aimed to disseminate crucial information among media partners with regards to readiness, capability and preparedness of the City Government in terms of occurrence of disaster either natural or human-induced.

Among the discussions tackled during the Kapihan focused on these three key topics: Covid-19 situationer and case update; ROF and LSI guidelines and its current local status; and CDRRMO programs accomplishment.

While observing health protocol, key members of the council present were Vice Chairperson of Disaster Preparedness – CLGOO Aldrich Alaan, Chairperson of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) – Dr. Dennis P. Sangalang, Vice Chairperson of Rapid Damage and Needs Analysis – City Administrator Herculano S. Ronolo and Vice Chairperson of Recovery and Rehabilitation – Engr. Roy A. Lapuz.

Executive Assistant IV Brian Nelson T. Flores also graced the Kapihan. Other members of the council in attendance were acting CSWD Officer Ivy Amor Urbina, City ENRO representative Jessie Suson, CPDC Engr. Adrian Gamboa, CDRRMO officers and secretariat, and different members of media in print, radio broadcast and online.

Ronolo welcomed the attendees, “Hand in hand, we should be united with our steps, actions, strategies and programs towards adapting and living with the new normal. This event could have been set aside with all the reasons of why’s and if’s because of this pandemic, but we pushed through because the public has the need to know with the right information. Together, we can help each other with our current situation. In unity there is strength,” he added.

Dr. Sangalang then presented the Covid19 situationer and case updates. He elaborated what has been done by the national and local government in the ever evolving response to Covid-19 showing the management of our situation. He also stressed the current development of the survival rate of patients that have significantly improved despite vaccines are still unavailable.

The local IATF chair also promoted the Department of Health’s information campaign with this tagline: “Labanan natin ang Covid, maging BIDA — B-awal walang mask; I-sanitize ang mga kamay, iwas hawak sa mga bagay-bagay; D-umistansya ng isang metro; Alamin ang totoong impormasyon, wag maniwala sa fake news.”

Meanwhile, CLGOO Alaan, discussed thoroughly the management of the LSIs and ROFs, how they are being handled and their real-time status based on the locally developed database. “Guidelines are made because many are affected with Covid19. It is our duty to perform the extra mile to facilitate, guide and help them,” Alaan emphasized during his presentation.