Recognizing the significant efforts of barangays in COVID-19 response, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to award close to 50k Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) nationwide through the implementation of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team Excellence Awards in Thwarting the Coronavirus Disease (BEAT COVID-19) Project.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that the BEAT COVID-19 Project is a pat on the back for the exemplary performance of the 49,914 BHERTs across the country leading to the current downtrend of COVID-cases in the Philippines.
He said that BHERTs will be awarded with a “Sertipiko ng Katibayan sa Kahusayan at Kasipagan ng BHERT” signed by him, Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin B. Diño, National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) Director Dennis D. Villasenor, and their respective DILG regional directors.
“We have to give credit where credit is due. Our BHERTs have been with us even before Day 1 of the pandemic. They are the ones working in communities. They have been instrumental in our country’s fight against COVID-19 and through the BEAT COVID-19 Project we are telling them that we see their contributions and that we value them,” he said.
“This [BEAT COVID-19 Project] is a small token of our acknowledgment for our BHERTs’ service to the Filipinos as they selflessly risked their lives and health to provide necessary assistance to the people,” he said.
The DILG Chief said that BHERTs have been the constant partners of the national government and other instrumentalities of the government in addressing COVID-19-related concerns in the communities together with the hired contact tracers and members of the Local COVID-19 Task Forces.
As the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) approved the easing to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 status of National Capital Region (NCR) and 38 other areas in the country from March 1 to 15, Año said that “it is vital that we commend the people that help us get here.”
Through DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2022-023, the DILG, cognizant of the vital role BHERTs play in the COVID-19 response of the country, likewise enjoined all local government units (LGUs) to partake in recognizing all BHERTs within their locality by supporting the implementation of the project. Support from LGU can be implemented by organizing award ceremonies where the certification will be handed to the barangays with organized BHERTs.
“Hindi rin naman natin pipigilan ang ating mga pamahalaang lokal kung maiisipan nilang magbigay ng maliit na insentibo sa ating mga BHERTs,” Año said.
Among the responsibilities of the BHERTs are to conduct visits in the homes of individuals possibly inflicted with COVID-19; encourage and assist COVID-19 positive residents to isolate in Barangay Isolation Units or self-quarantine at home; initiate contact-tracing; and, report, on a daily basis, the condition of prospective and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Prior to the start of the nationwide lockdown in 2020, the DILG enjoined all LGUs to activate their BHERTs composed of an Executive Officer, a Barangay Tanod (barangay police officer), and two Barangay Health Workers. Some barangays have organized more than one BHERTs.
The BEAT COVID-19 awarding ceremony, to be held no later than July 30, 2022, will be conducted either face-to-face or virtually in all compliant barangays by the DILG regional and field offices in cooperation with their respective LGUs.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-to-recognize-close-to-50k-organized-BHERTs-nationwide-for-COVID-19-response-efforts/NC-2022-1022