Caloocan passes Frontliners’ Day measure
Caloocan City Councilor Orvince Howard A. Hernandez expressed his gratitude to the Caloocan City Council after it passed his Ordinance 11-146 Series of 2021, entitled “An Ordinance declaring 15 March 2021 and every year thereafter as Caloocan City Frontliners’ Day, providing funds therefore and for other purposes.”
“I am very thankful the city council approved this proposed ordinance. This is a simple but fitting recognition of our frontliners who have been sacrificing a lot, even putting their very own lives on the line, to provide essential and life-saving services to our people in this time of the pandemic, especially during the enhanced community quarantine period,” Hernandez said.
Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan also expressed his support for the proposed ordinance, which Hernandez authored, and is co-authored by Councilor Vincent Ryan R. Malapitan of the 1st district and Majority Floor Leader Edgardo N. Aruelo.
Among those considered frontliners are doctors, nurses, hospital staff, pharmacists and all other medical frontliners, all barangay officials and staff, police and military personnel, security guards and traffic enforcers, staff at supermarkets and groceries, dining establishments, delivery riders, market vendors, government personnel, emergency response personnel, employees and staff in hotel establishments used as isolation facilities, all bank employees, media members, waste and garbage collectors and others delivering essential services and performing necessary work.
Once approved, a program committee will be organized to be composed of representatives from various departments and offices of the city and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Caloocan City.
“The task of the committee is to plan, prepare, implement and direct any and all activities in connection with the Frontliners’ Day celebration. It will be headed by a chairperson to be appointed by the city mayor,” Hernandez explained.
Funds needed for the celebration will be taken from the available funds of the SK Federation or from the city’s general fund not otherwise appropriated, subject to government accounting and auditing rules.