TACLOBAN CITY- Please be honest.
This was the appeal of Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, health officer of this city, amid reports that there were those who applied for health certificates tampering their documents.
Applying for health certificate in the city is now through online to avoid physical contact that could result to spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The document is used by individuals for them to travel to other areas in the region due to travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Fabrigas said disclosed that they have received around 100 applications with forged barangay certificates and identification cards.
“Upon verification, for example 500 an naissue namin there are about 93 to 100 na nade-deny, kasi fine-fake yung brgy certificate and ibang IDs,” she said.
“That is why, we deny some applications kasi pinapalitan lang nila ang date nang barangay certificate or yung pangalan,” Fabrigas added.
The city health officer also said that some applicants are not also providing their own e-mail address.
Online application of health certificate goes through a process that includes verification of documents submitted online by the applicant.
Aside from barangay certificate and identification card, the applicants are also asked for their QR code.
“Marami ang nagrereklamo na hindi sila nakakakuha ng health certificate but upon verification marami po ang hindi totoo yung kanilang brgy certificate at yung kanilang QR code,” Fabrigas said.
Fabrigas then asked city residents to plan ahead when they are applying for health certificate as they can only issue 500 a day.
Cases of applicants using tampered barangay certificate and fake IDs are forwarded to the City Legal Office.
City Administrator Aldrin Jude Quebec said that they are bent in filing appropriate actions against people who are using fake documents in applying for the health certificate.
“This will only take time because of our process but definitely we will take action to discipline these people,” he said.
Quebec added that it is important for the city government to enforce protocols and policies to prevent the transmission COVID-19.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Around P20 million budget for the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) implementation in the region was reverted to the national government for funding government intervention against corona virus disease (COVID-19).
This was disclosed by Pamana’s regional manager Emilda Bonifacio who added that the national government assured her that this would be replaced.
The fund was intended for the implementation of livelihood projects in areas that are being assisted by the Pamana with the help of national government agencies.
“There was a problem on implementing the livelihood project due to COVID-19 because there is a need for a face-to-face interaction which is not allowed in our present health protocols,” Bonifacio said.
“We cannot distribute the funds not unless we are able to meet and talk to the beneficiaries,” she added.
Bonifacio clarified that their road projects would still continue as funding for these was not stopped.
“We assure our partners that our inter-road projects, particularly those located in Samar provinces, will continue,” she said.
Since 2011, the national government through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in the implementation of Pamana projects had downloaded more than P4.2 billion fund for Eastern Visayas.
“Hopefully by 2020, our proposed projects will be funded as these are involves big road network for the promotion of peace and development for Eastern Visayas,” she said.
Aside from big road networks and livelihood projects, Pamana also funds farm-to-market roads, and potable water systems mostly in communities in Samar province identified to be affected by the New People’s Army influence. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)