Flags fly at half-staff in Bacolod

Bacolod City – Flags at the Bacolod City Government Center, Old City Hall, and public plaza will be flown at half-staff starting Monday until end of the month.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the gesture is to honor healthcare workers and frontliners who died while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is also in observance of the National Heroes’ Day (Araw ng mga Bayani) on August 31.

Leonardia’s directive is also in consonance with Resolution No. 2 Series of 2020 of the Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) to “display the Philippine flag at half-mast from August 17 to 31 in honor of the frontliners who have succumbed to COVID-19.”

The resolution said the virus has claimed the lives of 2,426 people, based on the latest update of the Department of Health, as of the time of the ACE meeting on August 12.

Among these fatalities were frontliners, mostly medical practitioners, who have served the country – saving other people’s lives to the detriment of their own health and safety.

“Their heroic deeds deserve recognition from the people for whom they have laid down their lives,” the resolution stated.

The resolution was passed during the ACE virtual meeting last August 12.

It was signed by Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca – president, Silay City Mayor Mark Andrew Arthur Golez – secretary general; and San Enrique Mayor Jilson Tubillara – treasurer and acting secretary.

Also present in the virtual meeting were Mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City, Salvador Escalante of Cadiz City, Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. of Himamaylan City, Maria Gina Lizares of Sipalay City, Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Renato Gustilo of San Carlos City, Jose Nadie Arceo of Hinigaran, Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra, Lawrence Marxlen Dela Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto, Enrique Miravalles of Valladolid, Irene Montilla of Isabela, Victor Gerardo Rojas of Murcia, and Cicero Borromeo of Candoni.

The resolution to fly the Philippine flag at half-mast was also in response to the call of Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and former congressman Alfredo Benitez.

The former solon called for a month-long mourning for fallen COVID-19 frontliners

He also called on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to declare a national period of mourning to honor healthcare workers who have died after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Benitez said flying the Philippine flag in all public offices at half-mast beginning August 17 until September 18 is a solemn act of recognizing the sacrifice of health care workers who continued to treat COVID-19 patients despite the risks. The start of the month-long commemoration coincides with the week wherein the world marks the World Humanitarian Day on August 19.

“This is the least that we can do to honor our healthcare workers who risked their safety to serve our nation in its darkest hour. They are modern-day heroes deserving our nation’s highest respect,” Benitez said.

“We condole with the bereaved families of our fallen frontliners. Beyond this small gesture of solidarity, it is our responsibility to make sure that their deaths are not in vain. I call on each and every Filipino to act according to established health protocols to help turn the tide in this war,” Benitez further said.