from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection and Sorsogon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office stationed at the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) checkpoint at Barangay Salvacion (West), Sorsogon City’s northwestern entrance, from March 30 to April 1, 2020.

Led by Interim General Manager Engr. Eduardo P. Tejada himself, 24 volunteers from SCWD and its two private partners Abejo Waters Corp. and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. prepared, cooked, packed and distributed lunch boxes and refreshments at the checkpoint which serves as Sorsogon City’s first line of defense against the dreaded Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

With bumping elbows replacing handshakes as a sign of respect and pleasantries, many have been exchanged during the food pack distribution with the iconic “Welcome to Sorsogon City” serving as backdraft.

“It’s a simple gesture and contribution to show our appreciation to your effort and sacrifice to ensure our safety,” remarked IGM Tejada while bumping elbows with Police Major Jerry Cereno, the checkpoint team leader, on March 31 and April 1. Earlier on March 30 also at the same checkpoint, he bumped elbows with Luisito H. Mendoza, OIC of the CDRMMO and whose building at the City Hall Complex is presently shared with SCWD as a temporary office.

It was by all means simple: rice, adobo and cucumber salad on the first day; rice, igadillo and salted egg on the second day; and two-piece chicken meal and extra rice on the third day. But SCWD and partners, whose primary and critical role in the ECQ period is delivering sufficient water supply, went the extra mile – even for only three days – by providing meals as well a regular refill of water for drinking and handwashing in support to Sorsogon City’s frontliners.

The corona virus pandemic has literally put many parts of the country and the world in a standstill, but it has not stopped SCWD from extending assistance, in the true bayanihan spirit, to the brave men and women in uniform who sacrifice their own health and safety if only to make sure that Sorsogon City is and remains COVID-free.