DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday, July 16, 2020, defended the planned house-to-house search for coronavirus patients under “Oplan Kalinga”, saying it is necessary to prevent further transmission of the disease.
He said it is not the same as “Oplan Tokhang”, the Philippine National Police (PNP) program to visit suspected drug personalities in an attempt to convince them to surrender, but which has resulted in the killing of thousands.
Año said critics should try to understand the issue before making any comment.
“Una dito sa ating strategy dapat ma-isolate natin lahat ng mga positive Covid patients. Hindi kasi puwede mag home quarantine sila samantalang hindi naman pala capable o ready ‘yung kanilang bahay para sa home quarantine,” he said.
(This strategy aims to isolate all those found positive for the virus. They cannot undergo home quarantine if the conditions are not met.)
The house-to-house search aims to convince individuals who have contracted Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to go to a government isolation center if conditions for home quarantine are not met.
Home quarantine is allowed only if the patient has his own room and bathroom, and if there are no elderly, minors, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals in the same house.
Año said that unlike Tokhang, the house-to-house search will be led by health workers. The police will merely provide support.
“Kasi alam mo naman kapag hindi mo kasama ‘yung law enforcement ‘yung mga matitigas ang ulo hindi yan susunod,” he said.
(Because without law enforcers, it would be hard to convince people.)
Año said it is about time for the government to impose stricter measures on home quarantine because it has worsened community transmission.
He cited an infected person in Barangay Luz in Cebu City, who even shared a glass with his friends after he tested positive for the virus. He infected several others as a result.
“Merong nagmo-monitor (sa mga naka home quarantine) pero alam mo hindi mo mamomonitor 24 hours. Kailangan talaga ‘yung cooperation ng pasyente,” he said.
“‘Yung pasyente kasi kapag binista mo yan ang bait niya pero pag-alis mo gagawin na niya ‘yung mga pagsuway at alam niya kung kailan bibisita yung BHERT pero pag-alis tuloy na ‘yung ligaya niya pero for the meantime andami na niyang inilagay sa panganib,” said Año.
(Those under home quarantine are supposed to be monitored. But 24-hour monitoring is not possible. Some patients would strictly comply with the guidelines everytime the BHERT visits, but reverts to carelessness and puts others in danger when the BHERT leaves.)
BHERT refers to Barangay Health Emergency Response Team. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)