BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Anthony Jose Loth Ayco sounds witty, even jovial on Facebook.
In one of his posts today, Ayco, more known by his nickname, Anjo, noted:
Ang China daw indi ka balo kung ano himuon sa problema ka corona virus. Ang Japan, South Korea kag Italy ga sala na. Ang Israel kag Iran init man na nga pungsod pero may ara na man infected. Ang Pilipinas ya sus sa ka tawhay lang gyapon.
Relax. Damo ta.d ya manug luy-a luy-a a. 😂😂
China does not seem to know what to do with the coronavirus problem. Japan, South Korea and Italy also seem to be confused.
Israel and Iran are hot countries but there are reported infections.
Here in the Philippines, we are calm.
Relax. We have a lot of ginger herbalists here.
Offline, Anjo is serious.
Dead serious.
Especially on the COVID-19 threat.
In Village 15, one of the smallest villages here with a population of 338, Ayco has started preparations months ago for a “lockdown” situation, he said, like that in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the disease.
Ayco said their preparations started weeks before the COVID-19 hit close to home when a person positive for the virus passed through the Oriental Negros city of Dumaguete.
The young village chief told DNX aside from campaigning for prevention tips like handwashing, using surgical masks and basic hygiene measures, they have also promoted urban gardening and indigenous sourcing of water.
“This is a worst-case scenario preparation,” Ayco explained.
Which means even if the village is shut off to outside contact, it can rely on internal resources for food, water and other needs for survival.
Ayco added this is a necessary preparation given Village 15’s peculiar location, right within downtown Bacolod.
