The Bacolod City Government honored NIATF-Visayas chief implementer Major General (Retired) Melquiades “Mel” Feliciano, his wife Mia Fe Feliciano, and four members of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
General Feliciano has been overseeing the Bacolod City Operations Center (EOC) for two months now since its creation. He brought with him Mrs. Feliciano, a nurse by profession with extensive clinical background and patient care experience in the United States.
Aside from the plaques of appreciation, the Feliciano spouses were conferred of the title as the “First Adopted Couple” of Bacolod in its 82 years of cityhood.
General Feliciano was accompanied by his support team from OPAPP, who were also given plaques of appreciation: Jessica Banganan, Marjorie Quiles, Johnnel Rañeses, and Adrianne Paulo Reales.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, head of EOC-Task Force, led the giving of plaques of appreciation and token to them, during the Testimonial Dinner and Appreciation Night at the Bacolod City Government Center Saurday [Oct. 31].
The mayor was assisted by Vice Mayor El Cid Familairan, chair of the Bacolod IATF; City Administrator Em Ang, executive director and deputy for administration and operations of the EOC; Councilor Renecito Novero, chair of the Quarantine Centers Action Team; Councilor Lady Gles Pallen, president of Liga ng mga Barangay; and Councilor Ayesha Joy Villaflor, chair of the Action Team on APORs (Authorized Persons Outside of Residence).
General Feliciano was among the members of the team deployed by President Rodrigo Duterte to Bacolod last August during the sudden spike of COVID-19 cases in the City.
Feliciano and his wife were originally scheduled to supervise the Bacolod EOC for one month, specifically from September 1 to 30, but the couple decided to stay to continue advising, coaching and guiding the task force until such time it can “competently and confidently” stand on its own.
It was last August when Leonardia wrote President Rodrigo Duterte a letter appealing for help in view of the urgent COVID-19 crisis in Bacolod, which resulted in the deployment of the assistance team including Feliciano.
Feliciano, in acknowledging the dedication of all the people behind the EOC, said: “Now I can say that the EOC is institutionalized with all the systems working effectively. This would not have been seen without the hard work of the EOC.”
