Benjamin Franklin once wrote that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While the whole world could not have prevented the magnitude of COVID-19’s devastation, knowing and understanding how the virus can spread became imperative even for our town, Panitan, Capiz. My work as the Municipal Information Officer gave me the opportunity to reach out to my kasimanwas to forewarn them of the possible impact of the contagion. Equipping the people of our town did not exactly prevent the virus from getting to us. But it did help them prepare for what would become one of the most unforgettable chapters in our town’s history.
Even before the COVID-19 reached Capiz, I joined the medical frontliners of Panitan RHU travel to different barangays of our municipality for information awareness campaign. We apprised the townspeople about Covid-19, introduced to them the proper measures to prevent and combat the virus, and informed them of the new health protocols, executive orders and ordinances of the Municipality. As the Information Officer, I tried to make sure that everyone in our town had access to information to help them prepare and prevent COVID-19. So when the situation worsened and community lockdown was declared, Panitan was prepared. People did not panic, delivering goods to barangays proceeded smoothly. In retrospect, helping my fellowmen obtain the needed information before the actual crisis did not only help them prepare for what was to come. It also helped us in the LGU strategize, synergize, and synthesize the measures necessary to confront this pandemic. Afterall, as civil servants, our task is not to foresee the future, but to enable it (Antoine de Saint Exupery).
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(Carol Dequina Diama is a Revenue Collection Clerk 1/Municipal Information Officer of Panitan, Capiz)
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