BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order No. 69, declaring retired Major General Melquiades Feliciano and Mia Feliciano as the first adopted couple of Bacolod City.
Leonardia, who signed the EO on October 30, said Mel Feliciano, National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) chief implementer for the Visayas, together with his wife Mia, who is a nurse by profession with an extensive clinical background and patient care experience here in the Philippines and the United States of America, willingly took the responsibility to replicate in Bacolod City the successful strategy that their team has employed in Cebu City during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak there, by establishing the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that coordinates centralized Covid-19 response operations.
He said the Felicianos were originally assigned a working time frame of one month from September 1 to 30, 2020, however, they decided to remain in Bacolod to continue advising, coaching and guiding the EOC-Task Force members until it could competently and confidently stand on its own.
He added the EOC Task Force, through their leadership, energy and dedication, has grown its level of commitment and competence for the success of the EOC and that Covid-19 cases in Bacolod have declined, owing to their "inspiring methodical and analytical mentoring style."
During the first two weeks of their stay in Bacolod City, the Feliciano couple divided their time between Bacolod and Iloilo, as Covid-19 cases in both cities were increasing. They traveled every day and often took their lunches onboard a boat before proceeding to EOC meetings immediately upon arrival.
Mel Feliciano was also instrumental in facilitating access to logistical support for test kits and convalescent plasma for Bacolod City patients from the Department of Health Central Visayas through the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.
Leonardia said for two months of working with the people of Bacolod City in the formulation of effective actions and interventions to curb the spread of Covid-19, the couple have generously shared their expertise and invaluable wisdom and have "exemplified the true spirit of altruism, commitment and dedication for the welfare of Bacolodnons."
"Through the committed effort of Mel and Mia Feliciano, combined with the energy contributions of their team, Bacolod City is now enjoying the result of their hard work as we see a stable and efficient EOC and fewer Covid-19 cases that can be attributed to effective interventions of the EOC," he said.
The mayor stressed that in appreciation of their sacrifices throughout these unprecedented times during the Covid-19 crisis in the Bacolod, for their tireless service in keeping the city safe, and for all of their hours and hard work they have put in, the people of Bacolod "would like to express their eternal gratitude to the Feliciano couple."
"As crisis begets heroes, we have found ours in Retired Major General Mel and Mia Feliciano," he said.
