With businesses, government-owned centers and private institutions transforming their own facilities into temporary shelters for frontliners during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Valenzuela City reaches out its helping hand to Obando’s frontliners as the municipality enforced total lockdown in its boundaries to combat COVID-19.

Obando Frontliner Center, Valenzuela City’s very own temporary shelter to cater to Obando frontliners, can accommodate thirty (30) persons complete with beds, blankets, pillows and basic toiletries per individual. Housed in the City’s Social Hall, free food, snacks, water and coffee are also available for the dear frontliners – providing relief after a long day of duty fighting COVID-19.

Likewise for Valenzuela City frontliners who will be assigned to the Central Isolation Units for the COVID-19 cases of the City, Meaco Royal Hotel was rented by the City Government of Valenzuela to house them temporarily. Free shuttle services are also being provided for the City frontliners.   

Obando, a municipality of Bulacan, has announced through its Facebook page that it will enforce a total lockdown of its boundaries last March 30, 2020 following the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases on the nearby cities. Only essential goods will be allowed to enter and exit the municipality, but those who will be leaving Obando will not be allowed entry again, a problem that posed a great challenge for frontliners who resides in Obando but are working outside the municipality.

Currently, there are a number of frontliners who are also Obando residents working at the Valenzuela Citicare Medical Center, Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital, Allied Care Experts Medical Center Valenzuela and the DOH-run Valenzuela Medical Center. This temporary shelter welcomed them today, April 06, 2020, and shall continue to operate at their service.

Almost like a home, Obando Frontliner Center comes with the Alagang Valenzuelano Mobile Shower and Toilet which is being used by Valenzuela City as part of its disaster preparedness plan, usually placed in evacuation centers to cater to evacuees during calamities.

“In Valenzuela we embrace our healthcare heroes from Obando na mahihirapan makauwi sa kanila [who will find it hard to go home]. Valenzuelanos, salamat [thank you] for allowing your city government to help our healthcare workers from Obando,” Mayor REX Gatchalian expressed.

As the COVID-19 pandemic is a looming crisis faced by countries worldwide, one virtue remained evident across cultures -- unity, towering the distance and looking past the boundaries that are not meant to divide nations, but to unite all Filipinos to heal as one. This stands true as Valenzuela City continues to welcome and admire frontliners, beyond boundaries and past all differences.