LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Truckers and traders in Benguet's capital town are now asked to adhere to a "no touchdown policy" and keep with them a logbook for purposes of contact tracing.
The policy is being strictly enforced at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post (LTVP) where traders, disposers, drivers, and helpers met to assure unhampered delivery of fresh highland vegetables even from areas where there are positive cases of Covid-19.
The measure aims to deter the spread of the virus after a 22–year–old male helper from Botiwtiw, Balili and a vegetable truck driver with a travel history in Manila, Bulacan and Benguet towns tested positive for coronavirus.
Mayor Romeo Salda said after disinfection activities last week at the trading post, operations resumed June 14.
Salda asked stakeholders to observe guidelines and protocols issued by the local government unit and keep with them a diary and record of their whereabouts.
During Monday's meeting with vegetable truckers, traders, chicken dung traders, the Department of Health (DOH) in the province highlighted the need for stakeholders to keep diaries and maintain a daily log of places they visited and people they had close contact with.
The log will help frontliners conduct contact tracing once they test positive for the new coronavirus.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas and Salda sought the cooperation of all stakeholders for contact tracing.
Before entering the trading post, temperature of both passengers and truck drivers are checked and asked to log in before entering the premise. Only vegetable traders are allowed to transact business inside the facility.
Due to the increasing number of confirmed positive cases of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) in the province, the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center on Monday advised all stall lessees in the trading bays, commercial spaces, and carrot washing facility to list down information of all transacted individuals including farmer, packer, porter, purchaser, buyer, helper, driver, and others.
Truck drivers are also advised to list all the names and contact numbers of all individuals during the day. All gathered information will be used in contact tracing.
La Trinidad and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region remain under modified general community quarantine from June 16 to 30 as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte Monday evening.