To strengthen contact tracing strategies in the barangays, City of San Fernando Police Station (CSFPS), in coordination with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and La Union Provincial Police Office (LUPPO), conducted a Retooled Contact Tracing Seminar yesterday, September 1, 2020 at Barangay Poro Covered Court.

City Mayor Alf Ortega and the current CSFPS officers graced the seminar attended by Punong Barangays and members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) from 55 barangays.

In his message, Mayor Alf expressed that given the situation brought about by the pandemic, time and accurate information are of the essence. “Kaya bilang public servants, kailangan rin nating maging mabilis sa pag-aksyon para malabanan ang virus.”, Mayor Alf added as he addressed the participants of the seminar.

During the seminar, speakers from LUPPO’s Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Unit 1 discussed the current CoViD-19 data overview of the province and the City, as well as the Retooled Contact Tracing System as the PNP’s CoViD-19 data management tool. Afterwards, CIDG’s Asst. Regional Chief-Regional Field Unit-1 Police Major Nelson Cortez talked about Cognitive Interviewing Techniques for effective data gathering of barangay-level contact tracers.

Newly appointed CSFPS Officer-in-Charge Police Major Lawrence Ganuelas assures strict implementation of PNP on existing CoViD prevention guidelines and protocols specifically on border control, allowed entries, and curfew. He believes that capacitating contact tracers will strengthen the City Government’s collaborative frontline services in order to totally reduce the City’s active cases to zero.

Acknowledging the need for benchmarked practices, Punong Barangay Joseph Clarence Valero of Barangay Poro appreciates the seminar topics which he believes will enhance the barangay contact tracing methods by providing them easy-to-follow guidelines and procedures.

The City Government continues to regard the prime contribution of barangay frontliners and cooperative police force in ensuring the effectiveness of interventions in safekeeping #SanFernandoAyayatenKa from the ongoing threat of CoViD-19.

(Story by Jeddahn Rosario)
(Photos by Adrian Sebastian)