TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Jul 31 (PIA) - The provincial government of Lanao del Norte conducted a formulation and validation workshop for COVID-19 Rehabilitation and Recovery Planning on Wednesday, July 29, at Macapagal Training Center, Pigcarangan, this municipality.

Provincial Governor Imelda 'Angging' Quibranza-Dimaporo who led the workshop encouraged the participants representing various agencies of the National Government and the Municipal Planning and Development Councils to focus on programs, projects, and activities that will help the public bounced back from the hardship brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor emphasized to prioritize programs that are sustainable for the people, especially the returning residents, to develop and nurture and eventually contribute to the economic growth of the province aside from being with their families.

Livelihood and skills training programs are the utmost priority of the Provincial Government for the people, especially those who lost their jobs or earnings due to the strict implementation of lockdown and the closure of their company or store.

During the workshop, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) presented their proposed strategies in food production which include tilapia fingerlings distribution to encourage backyard fishpond, identification of sites for the establishment of tilapia hatcheries, and rendering technical assistance on aquaculture and postharvest by conducting training and orientation, subject to the minimum health standard required by the Local Government Units and Department of Health (DOH), and in accordance with the guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

For the Department of Trade and Industry, one of their vital strategies in the financial services is the institutionalization of the provision of financial support program packages to affected micro, small, and medium enterprises under the livelihood seeding program thru the Negosyo Center by granting livelihood starter kits to those qualified beneficiaries, and one of the requirements to be presented is the Business Permit.

The Department of Labor and Employment presented the implementation of the TUPAD Program or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers in the province that have benefited a total of 1,937 beneficiaries for 10 days work in disinfecting and cleaning their own home.

The DOH presented its strategies in partnership with the Provincial Health Office will focus on equipping the public health facilities and personnel with adequate capacities and resources to manage infectious diseases, such as SARS (including COVID-19), influenza, common cold, tuberculosis, Hepatitis A and B, and increase number of fully equipped isolation rooms, to name a few.

The Governor thanked the DOH for providing the necessary assistance to the Provincial Government, particularly in the establishment of the COVID-19 Testing Laboratory at Old Kapatagan Provincial Hospital, and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment for the medical frontliners.

She also expressed appreciation to the agencies that extended support to the Provincial Government in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and assisting them to help ease the people's burden in these challenging times. (PIO-LDN)