Army supports contact tracing on COVID-19

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 14, 2020): Army supports contact tracing on COVID-19 (By Lorenzo O. Lambatin, Jr.)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- The 303rd Infantry Brigade, under its Commander Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, supports the recent "Metro 3rd Seminar on Contact Tracing" held at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Arts and Cultural Center, Victorias City as well as the overall efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus diseas 2019 (COVID-19).

The Victorias City government headed by mayor Francis Frederick Palanca hosted the activity in partnership with former 3rd District Representative Abelardo "Albee" Benitez and incumbent 3rd District Representative Jose Francis "Kiko" Benitez, said 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations Officer Captain Kelvin Bayaban.

The seminar aims to strengthen and equip the contact tracing participants to become efficient contact tracers in support to the government’s fight against the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Representative Jose Francis ‘Kiko’ Benitez, in his message, acknowledged the efforts and support of the Armed Forces (AFP) to the national and local governments in their fight against COVID-19 and called on the Negrosanons to cooperate with the contact tracers.

“We are trying to avoid deaths as much as we can. I am also thankful to all networks of our communities, that it is you on behalf of our loved ones who are in danger of getting critical severe covid," he said.

The seminar was attended by local officials from various Local Government Units (LGU) in the province, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA), medical practitioners and designated trainers of contact tracing team in the province.

Pasaporte said the province needs to strengthen its contact tracing efforts because contact tracing is one important component in containing COVID-19.

“I commend the efforts of our Congressmen here in Negros Occidental especially in the 3rd District for their continuous collaboration efforts to address the problems related to COVID-19,” he said.

“The Armed Forces have already deployed medical personnel to augment the local medical healthcare of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. It is very important that the people of Negros and the local government units are cooperating to confront this COVID-19 health crisis," Pasaporte said. (303rd IB, CMO,PA/JSC/Lljr/PIA6 Negros Occidental Photo by 303rd IB, CMO,PA )

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1053063