THE search for additional isolation facilities continue in Benguet towns.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, November 10, in Baguio City, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan and La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda said they are coordinating with various agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for the construction of an isolation facility to house Covid-19 patients.
In Itogon, where the bulk of active cases in the province are recorded, Palangdan said based on their initial talks with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-CAR and DPWH-CAR, the Mambolo propagation station of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the town is being eyed into a treatment facility.
A memorandum of agreement was also signed between the local government and the Atok Gold Mining for the usage of their building, which can accommodate 20 persons.
To date, the mayor said the active patients are admitted in Itogon Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF), ISRI TTMF, Rural Health Station, Virac TTMF, BCI Guesthouse, Benguet hospitals, Provincial TTMF, Philex Mines, Venus Dormitories in T. Alonzo, Baguio City while others remain in home isolation.
As of Sunday, there are 373 active cases in Itogon.
"The problem is that we have 117 who do not have a place to stay. They are in-home quarantine which against the policy of DOH (Department of Health). We are trying our best to look for some other isolation facility to cover this," Palangdan said.
Palangdan added that two schools were utilized as isolation facility with the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-CAR and OCD-CAR who coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd).
"According to the director Marlo Iringan (DILG) and director Albert Mogol, DepEd allowed the use of Balatoc Elementary School and Central School in (barangay) Poblacion as isolation facility. We are requesting the other elementary schools to be used if necessary," the mayor said.
Palangdan said the isolation rooms in the school buildings and another room for the printing of printed modules for the learners are separated.
In La Trinidad, where there are 123 active cases, Salda said all available isolation facilities are in full capacity and has also requested to DepEd for schools in the town to become isolation facilities.
Eyed as isolation facilities include Puguis Elementary School and Alno National High School.
"Some of our positive cases are in-home quarantine but we are slowly transferring them to our isolation. Some of the positive cases are in home quarantine have their own rooms," he added.
Palangdan, meanwhile, appealed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office-CAR to provide additional relief packs to the locked down barangays.
Salda, meanwhile, said they plan to use their Quick Response Fund to cater to the patients need including food.
As of November 9, the Provincial Government recorded 801 active out of the 1,679 total confirmed cases with 863 recoveries, and 15 deaths.