Boholanos, by way of an informal survey, show that they are giving their support to Gov. Arthur Yap in the latter’s effort to tell the public the true situation in the province regarding Covid-19.
The survey question revolved on whether or not the public wants the provincial government to divulge publicly the test results, whether positive or negative, of those subjected to the Covid-19 tests. .
The informal survey was posted on the Facebook personal account of Ardy Araneta- Batoy, the managing editor of The Bohol Tribune. As of this writing, there are 137 volunteer participants, and almost all are saying they want the truth to be known and to be released to the public.
In the survey, there are at least two respondents who said that they don’t want the provincial government to reveal the information about the test results to the public for reasons explicityly stated. (Please see the Vox Populi Pages – 9 & 25 – of this paper for the complete data and statements of respondents.)
By way of the survey, the people have spoken, that they support the provincial government’s action to widely disseminate the information regarding the true status of the Covid situation in the province.
Last week, the public, wanting to get information, urged the provincial government to disclose the test results of the repatriated overseas Filipino workers.
In an effort to provide timely information, the governor has been busy updating his Facebook accounts and granting radio interviews just to provide the latest information to the Boholano public.
Moreover, the governor has been hounding Department of Health (DoH) Central Visayas regional director Jaime Bernadas for the update on the OFW test results. The test results of the OFWs were completely released after days of delay due to a backlog situation in Cebu, Bernadas revealed.
Also, the provincial government has been using the Open Forum program of the Bohol Tribune to air the various updates about the Covid-19 situation. This is aside from a virtual presser streaming in the Facebook platform of the provincial government.
In the Open Forum program, updates on the offshore Boholanos coordination, security and public safety measures, social services concerns, and logistics are being announced.
Earlier last week. In an interview over Open Forum program of the Bohol Tribune, Yap said there is no reason on the part of the provincial government to curtail the release of vital information to the public.
Yap said the provincial government has no intention to keep the information about the Covid situation away from the public.
He told the public via the radio interview to “have faith” and any updates will be communicated in a timely manner.
EIGHT WEEKS UNDER COMMUNITY QUARANTINE
Bohol is marking its eighth (8th) week of being under community quarantine. The provincial government imposed the community quarantine last March 16, 2020 in an effort to curb the spread of the virus and to boost the capabilities of the healthcare system to cope with the possible surge in Covid-19 cases.
As Bohol marked the eighth week of the community quarantine, Yap is issuing a statement which is being published here in toto. The full text of the message may also be read on page 3 of this paper.
My dear Bohol,
8 Weeks of Bohol GCQ
As we mark 8 weeks today of community quarantine in Bohol, we do so with a great sense of gratitude. When we started, the Philippines had a few hundred cases of Covid 19. Today, the Philippines has 12,305 cases and Cebu has 1803, cases.
Bohol has remained protected from the Covid 19 because we acted early. We quarantined ourselves against domestic air and sea travel, we wore face masks, campaigned for social distancing, closed non-essential establishments, observed our curfew and promoted sanitation and hygiene. These are as important today, as 8 weeks ago.
In the past 8 weeks, we learned many things about ourselves. Many learned to be generous by donating face masks, protective gear and food. Once afraid, hotels have now opened their doors to returning OFWs, while others helped by just staying home.
Sadly, we also learned that sometimes, there are people who would rather spend time in social media bashing the good work of others. We learned how fear and ignorance, can sometimes make us insensitive to the plight of others.
As we mark 8 weeks of Community Quarantine we must accept that the way we live has changed forever. Face masks and social distancing are here to stay under the new normal. Tourism which has no capacity limits, no environmental protection and no waste management plan must not be allowed to return.
To move forward, we must build three capacities: 1) the capacity to test for infections in the thousands through more PCR machines; 2) the capacity to contact trace so we can find the sick among us, and 3) the capacity to treat the sick through better quarantine, isolation and hospital systems.
If we can test, trace and treat, then we can show others and ourselves that we can live under the new normal. Businesses can return, religious services can be allowed, and we can once again accept domestic air and sea travelers.
In the meantime, we must return to basics. Food security must be our focus. We must grow more crops, livestock and poultry. This is the reason why, baranggay water projects for agriculture has remained in the Provincial Government’s Priority Programs. After production, we must engage the transport operators to bring food supplies closer to the people through our TABO SA BOHOL Program.
As OFWs and locally stranded individuals begin to go home, and more infections are possible, let us remember one thing: Covid 19 does not choose its victims. Rich and poor, officials and citizens are all possible victims. Do not treat those who are infected or who have recovered from Covid 19 with fear and stigma. Remember that if OFWs are infected, it was because they travelled far to feed their families. If doctors, nurses and technicians are infected, it is because they chose to serve and save us in this time of great need. Do not turn away from them. Help them because who knows, the next Covid 19 victim may be you and you will need their help in return.
We cannot survive through this crisis alone. We must remember we are one family. We are one Bohol.