Results Produced with the Municip al Ordinance on the Covid19 Health Emergency 

Maura de la Caridad Salabarría Roig ¹

¹ Centro de Estudios para la Calidad Educativa y la Investigatión Científica, Toluca, México 

Email: maura1059@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper carries out a study on the municipal ordinance of the canton of Babahoyo, which in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy, and Decentralization, establishes the responsibility of the Decentralized Autonomous Governments within their geographical area, which compulsorily adopt technical standards for the prevention and management of risks in their territories to protect people, community and nature in their territorial ordering processes. The field investigation was carried out in the Clemente Baquerizo parish in the city of Babahoyo, a locality that has been working to apply contingency plans and prevention measures before the declaration of a health emergency, in addition to actions according to the provisions of the declaration of emergency. A form with five questions was applied to a population of 30 inhabitants of the sector. Public policies applied in emergencies respond to a need that arises unexpectedly, however, it was shown that their effectiveness and scope are related to co-responsibility and the inclusion of all parties involved to specify strategies that benefit the highest percentage of the population.

Keywords: Citizenship, protection measures, health crisis, Municipal DAG, ordinance.

1.    Introduction

COVID-19 has been classified by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international importance. Many cases have been identified throughout the world. On February 28, 2020, the first case was confirmed in Babahoyo city.

[1] mentions that the health emergency has determined the installation of a new paradigm and has become the social imaginary in a scenario deeply marked by COVID-19, in order to be able to stop infections by highlighting the need for the prevalence in the face of business flexibility and unilateralism seeking to shield all labor relations, work as a central element of society as a whole has reinforced its consideration and its importance in relation to the position of citizenship.

[2] mentions that the coronavirus pandemic has generated an unprecedented situation that has paralyzed countries, disproportionately affecting the poorest and most vulnerable, to face the onslaught of this crisis it is necessary to combat the spread of the disease in the cantons therefore, in the city of Babahoyo, the Municipal Government needs to guarantee citizen security to the Babahoyo population through the institutions of the National Decentralized Risk Management System (NDRMS) so that they apply contingency plans and precautionary measures in the face of declaration of a health emergency.

In the city of Babahoyo, cases of patients infected by the new variant have increased, and it is known that anyone can become infected, regardless of their age, but so far, the spread of COVID19 cases in the population has been relatively registered, even in children. Until now, most of the fatalities have been elderly people due to chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, or hypertension.  [3]

2.    Methods

Research Modality

The methodology applied in the present investigation is descriptive since when describing the characteristics, the elements and components of the problem are identified with a legal nature.

Design

The study of all the elements that make up the object of investigation is only possible if there is an accuracy in the number of elements that make up the object of study when we know that generalized knowledge belongs to each of the elements of the object of investigation.

The level of investigation is determined by the method Analysis-Synthesis, Inductive-Deductive, Observation, as well as others that address the realization of the research problem from the legal order.

Technique and Instrument

Direct observation

Through this technique, it is possible to appreciate all the characteristics presented in the exposed problem allowing to identify the details found.

Bibliographic review

The information contained in the Municipal Decentralized Autonomous Governments, magazine content, notes, and municipal regulations will be taken into account.

Population

The city of Babahoyo, is the capital of the province of Los Ríos, being the city where cases of patients infected by the disease have increased, and it is known that anyone can be infected regardless of their age.

Chosen sample

The Babahoyo Canton is the capital of the province of Los Ríos, where a large part of its population is grouped, which according to the 2020 census published by the INEC is 175,281 inhabitants.

Application method of the technique

Considering the most important actions to face COVID-19 are the containment of the spread of the virus through self-isolation, quarantine and social distancing, the fight to defend the rule of law, and the role of law enforcement in society.

Study measuring instrument

The instrument applied in the research will be the survey applied to citizens in the different sectors of the city of Babahoyo, including actions of prevention, reaction, and mitigation to face threats of natural or anthropic origin that affect the city.

Processing of the information collected.

The municipal ordinance of the canton of Babahoyo, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy, and Decentralization, establishes the responsibility of the DAGs within their geographical area, which compulsorily adopt technical standards for the prevention and management of risks in their territories to protect people, community and nature in their territorial ordering processes. [4]

3.    Results

The field investigation was carried out in the Clemente Baquerizo parish in the city of Babahoyo, a locality that has been working to apply contingency plans and prevention measures before the declaration of a health emergency, in addition to actions in accordance with the provisions of the declaration of cantonal emergency.

A form with 5 questions was applied to a population of 30 inhabitants of the sector to know.

Question 1. During the last few weeks, have you changed your life habits due to COVID19?

Table 1. Alternatives to Question 1

Fig. 1. Results for Question 1

Question 2.  How do you rate the communication coverage on COVID19?

Table 2. Alternatives to Question 2

Fig. 2. Results for Question 2

Question 3.  Do you consider that a municipal ordinance to control the spread of COVID19 is reliable?

Table 3. Alternatives to Question 3

Fig. 3. Results for Question 3

Question 4. Do you consider that under municipal regulations sanctions can be applied to citizens for not complying with the provisions?

Table 4. Alternatives to Question 4

Fig. 4. Results for Question 4

Question 5. What recommendations does the municipality establish for citizens?

Table 5. Alternatives to Question 5

Fig. 4. Results for Question 4

Citizens consider that public policies in relation to the effect of the pandemic will be able to achieve favorable actions for the protection of citizens, in many cases adjusted to the reality of the country that implements them, as well as those established by consensus in organizations in those in which nations participate, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Organization (UN), the International Labor Organization (ILO), among others. [5, 6]

In this sense, the provisions considered by the Autonomous Decentralized Municipal Governments, within the framework of their powers, it is optional to issue and approve a resolution or municipal ordinance for the prevention and management of risks in their territories to protect people, community, and nature in its territorial planning processes, recall the obligation of the population to maintain isolation during the validity of the state of emergency, in the exercise of the powers provided for in the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy, and Decentralization. [7, 8]

In short, these results show how citizens know little about the powers of the Municipality, which in addition to being governed by the municipal ordinance, proposes recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), through print, radio, or digital media, highlighting the importance of maintaining daily care for the spread of massive contagion of COVID.[9]

4.  Discussion

The extraordinary situation that the COVID pandemic represented revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the health, economic and educational systems, and even the attitude of the community in general towards this type of event, bringing out positive and weak aspects of the implemented public management policies with references that coincide with the results obtained in the study; publicizing the impact of COVID on the population significantly affecting the territory.

5.  Conclusion

Public policies applied in emergencies respond to a need that arises unexpectedly, however, it was shown that their effectiveness and scope are related to co-responsibility and the inclusion of all parties involved to specify strategies that benefit the highest percentage of the population.

The participation of citizens is vital for the effectiveness of the measures that are implemented, for their part, the municipal governments must establish communication channels to guarantee the participation of all those involved in the design and implementation of new, more effective policies that guarantee the population of Babahoyense the citizen security that entails ensuring that through the institutions of the National Decentralized Risk Management System (NDRMS) where contingency plans are applied, precautionary measures in addition to the actions under the provisions of the cantonal emergency declaration in the COOTAD in article 140, which indicates that the municipal decentralized autonomous governments will compulsorily adopt technical standards for the prevention and management of risks in their territories with the purpose to protect people, communities and nature in their land-use planning processes. [10]

References

[1]        G. F. Moraru, "La transformación de las relaciones de trabajo en la emergencia sanitaria del COVID-19. Guayaquil.," 2020.

[2]        P. A. B. Peñafiel, "Babahoyo: Impacto de las ordenanzas municipales sobre la emergencia sanitaria COVID-19.," Revista Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores., 2021.

[3]        H. C. Díaz, "Cómo cambiar comportamientos durante una pandemia: El uso de nudges para enfrentar la COVID-19," Gestión y Análisis de Políticas Públicas, vol. 25, pp. 73-86, 2021.

[4]        P. d. República. (2010, Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial, Autonomía y Descentralización. . Available: https://www.oas.org/juridico/pdfs/mesicic4_ecu_org.pdf

[5]        Constitución de la República del Ecuador. , A. N. C. d. Ecuador, 2008.

[6]        G. Babahoyo., "Plan de Contigencia. Babahoyo.," 2020.

[7]        C. B. GADM, "Resolución de Declaratoria de Situación de Emergencia. Babahoyo.," 2020.

[8]        COE., "Informe de la Situación COVID-19. Quito.," 2020.

[9]        OMS. (2020, Indicadores. Available: https://apps.who.int/nha/database/Select/Indicators/en

[10]       COOTAD., "Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial, Autonomía y Descentralización. Babahoyo.," 2020.