Mayor Evelio Leonardia honored the frontliners who risked their lives in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and called them “modern-day heroes” who paved the way for Bacolod City’s de-escalation to Alert Level 1, at rites held on Monday, June 27.
Leonardia led officials, along with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the local Inter-Agency Task Force, in paying tribute to the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force and COVID Vaccination Council volunteers, headed by Councilor-elect Em Legaspi Ang, with her deputies Dr. Chris Sorongon and Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at the Bacolod City Government Center, a press release said.
Sorongon, the EOC deputy for medical, said Bacolod’s current vaccination rate is at 146 percent. This is the highest vaccination record in Western Visayas, he said.
“As we step down soon, we will be turning over a safer Bacolod (from COVID). All of these because of the dedication and firm commitment of the volunteers in the battle against the pandemic”, Sorongon said.
Leonardia gave a citation to the EOC Task Force, and certificates of appreciation to OIC City Health Officer Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr., Ma. Teresa Quebrar-Manalili – EOC secretariat head, Edrian Roel Robete – data collection and management, Dr. Rosalie Deocampo – contact tracing, Dr. Grace Tan – testing cluster, Ernie Pineda – extraction, Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan – disinfection and the BREDCO Team, Razielle Ann Morales – TTMF, Councilor Lady Gles Pallen – Liga ng Barangays, Councilor C Ayesha Joy Villaflor – chair of the Action Team on APORs, the Public Information Office, Miraflor and Sorongon – vaccination team, and the Bacolod City Police Office.
Leonardia, who will step down as mayor on June 30, also attended his last flag-raising ceremony, where he thanked the city employees for their hardwork and dedication that made Bacolod one of the most progressive highly-urbanized cities in the country today, the press release said.
“I am here today because I want to see all of you and personally thank you. To the department heads down to the job order workers, thank you for your hard work,” Leonardia said.
GONZAGA BRIDGE
Leonardia also attended the inauguration and blessing of the 70-lineal meter Gonzaga Bridge that was widened to include the pedestrian walk with railings to ensure safety of people plying the area.
The project, constructed by Supreme ATF Construction and Construction Supply, costs P44, 949,942.95.
Officiating the rites was Fr. Ireneo “Baby” Gordoncillo.*