DESPITE calls from some Dabawenyos, the Davao City Government has not considered banning the entry of Chinese nationals to the city, an official from the City Health Office (CHO) said.
CHO officer-in-charge Gene Gulanes said from the previous meetings with the different agencies concerned in the city free from 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), banning tourist from China, especially those from Wuhan, was not considered.
Since news broke out that individuals are being monitored for the 2019-nCoV in Davao City, Dabawenyos have been calling on the local government to impose travel restrictions against Chinese nationals following the global outbreak of the disease.
Davao City has direct flights to China that is being served by Xiamen Airlines and Cathay Dragon.
Commenting on a SunStar Davao post, Rosana Francisco Monteverde questioned why the government is still allowing the entry of passengers traveling from China.
“Why does the government allow direct flights from China to arrive in Davao? Last Sunday, may flight na dumating, and just this morning another one from Xiamen. Bakit di pina-cancel? Nakakatakot for those mga sumasalubong sa kanila na govt agencies [sic],” Monteverde’s comment read.
Likewise, Justine Rama could not help but feel alarmed by the number of Chinese nationals who recently arrived here.
“Kanus a pa man tawn ta mag alert sa atong exit or entrance diri si phil. Naa pa tay polio cases diri, hiv, ug uban pa unya madungagan ug Ncov! This is so unfair! I know Chinese are people pero datu mana sila unya kita mga pinoy? Mag inayahay rata anig pangamatay [sic],” Rama commented.
(When will the Philippine government realize that it needs to strengthen its borders. We have polio, HIV, and other diseases. Now we also have the 2019-nCov. This is unfair! The Chinese are wealthy and are able to take care of themselves. But how about us Filipinos?)
Yesterday, the Department of Health confirmed the first case of 2019-nCoV in the country.
The patient is a 38-year-old female from Wuhan, China who arrived in the country last January 21.
The DOH, however, assured the public that all necessary precautionary measures are being taken to stop the spread of the virus.
Gulanes said the city, for now, can only strengthen its quarantine surveillance, and identify their travel history.
Gulanes also cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement of not considering the ban.
“I don’t know if we can ban them, but the President himself said they cannot immediately ban (them),” Gulanes said on January 30, Thursday, during the iSpeak media forum at the City Hall of Davao.
Duterte said in a media interview during the 69th founding anniversary celebration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that it is difficult to order a ban the entry of Chinese nationals.
“Mahirap ‘yang ano -- sabihin mo you (It is hard to) suspend everything because they are not also suspending theirs and they continue to respect the freedom flights that we enjoy in their country,” the President said.
Although he said the government can limit the people entering the country, which could also include Chinese. But he said it is untimely and unfair if the ban will be implemented.
Several local governments, including City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan are calling on national agencies to ban the entry of Chinese tourists.
The Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), on Wednesday evening, January 29, ordered a temporary suspension of group tour travels of Chinese and “other Asian nationals: to the island as a proactive measures to protect its people from exposure from the 2019-nCoV.
“While we are promoting our city for tourism but the safety of our people is foremost,” the Igacos government said in a press release of the Samal City Information Office.
The local government also requested its partners, especially the tour operators and agencies, to support the local government to ensure the safety of everyone.
Meanwhile, Igacos City Mayor Al David Uy issued an executive order on Thursday, January 30, suspending the group tours composing of foreign nationals or tourists coming from nCov-affected countries.
As of press time, the Davao city government has not yet issued a statement.
Sunstar Davao had also sought the camp of Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who is the current acting mayor, but they cannot give any statement as of now.
Gulanes, meanwhile, said they are currently monitoring one individuals placed under investigation after being rushed to the hospital due to severe cough. He said the patient is from Xinjiang in China.
Seven individual are also being monitored after experiencing flu-like symptoms which were linked to the 2019-nCoV.
The local health official, however, said they were already discharged and advised to self-quarantine after initial findings do not match with the symptoms of the virus.
The samples taken from the patients were already submitted to the Department of Health (DOH) for verification.
With this, he said the city and the region is still “nCoV-free” and the public should not panic.
He also advised those who traveled from nCoV-affected countries and manifesting symptoms to immediately seek medical attention for precautionary measures.
No 2019-nCoV in SPMC
Meanwhile, an official of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) said they have no patient under investigation for possible infection of the 2019-nCoV admitted to their hospital yet.
SPMC chief of Clinics and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) coordinator Dr. Ricardo Audan said that as of yesterday morning, they have no record individuals in their hospital who were rushed for manifesting signs and symptoms of the disease.
This developed after on the Department of Health (DOH) revealed on Wednesday that a person in Davao Region is now under investigation for the novel coronavirus.
But no further details yet have been disclosed on the status of the patient.
Audan has assured the public that they are intensifying their monitoring and preparing all their facilities for possible eventualities.