Town uses Tiktok to deal with COVID-19

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The town of Calinog in Iloilo province made use of the trending online platform, Tiktok as a creative response to the growing concerns of its residents over the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The Municipal Tourism Office of Calinog launched the “Labada TikTok Challenge” on Tuesday encouraging locals to upload a 15-30 seconder video using the application Tiktok while doing their laundry.

The video should then be posted on Facebook with the hashtag #CovidFreeCalinog. Winners will be chosen based on the highest number of likes.

The unique campaign was recommended by one of the Sangguniang Bayan members of Calinog and was inspired by the move of the Davao Tourism Office, Executive Assistant for Tourism Affair Ma. Angela Forro said on Tuesday.

“It was recommended by SB Member Castillo because it was being campaigned by the Davao Tourism Office. We proposed it to Mayor Francisco Calvo and they all agreed with the idea because everyone is already panicking,” she said.

Forro said the main purpose of their campaign is to encourage local residents to stay at home and participate for the community quarantine and at the same time ease the panic of the residents.

“Since nagastay ang kabataan, para man at least malikawan ang ila nga paglagaw kag para indi man magpanic ang mga residente,” she added.

According to Forro, the Tiktok Challenge is open to all residents of Calinog, regardless of age and gender.

Every three days, the Municipal Tourism Office will announce the theme and the residents will come up with a Tiktok video based on the chosen theme.

“For our first theme, it will be a ‘Labada’ (laundry) Tiktok Challenge. They can post their videos with the hashtags and after three days, we will select the winners based on the number of likes,” Forro said.

Calinog residents can opt to do the challenge individually, by pair, or groups provided that they practice social distancing.

“It is one way para malighten man ang emotions naton and at the same time we comply with the orders of the national and local government,” Forro said.

Forro urged other local government units to follow their move and think of creative ways on how to respond to the pandemic.

“The effect of Covid-19 to the public is really fear and panic. So as LGUs, we should think of unique ways in responding to this situation,” she said.