Bohol has reasons to rejoice. Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) chief implementor Sec. Carlito Galvez with companions visited Bohol yesterday and gave 980 complete sets of personal protective equipment and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine to provincial officials. The machine is going to be stationed at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH), Gov. Arthur Yap said in a press conference yesterday.

Galvez was with his deputy Sec. Vince Dizon, Asec. Wilbur Mayor, and Department of Health (DOH) Director for Health Emergency Bureau Dr. Gloria Balboa. They arrived on an Air Force aircraft and landed at the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA).

Yap said he received the items from the IATF in simple ceremonies at the airport.

Moreover, Yap expressed his profound thanks to President Duterte and Sen. Christopher Go for the donation.

He said that the PCR is known as the gold standard in Covid diagnosis, and the most reliable test when it comes to detecting the virus infection.

The PCR machine will be used in tandem with another PCR machine that will be procured for the molecular lab inside GCGMH.

The plan, the governor said, is to have at least four PCR testing centers in Bohol.

A PCR testing center is being planned inside the GCGMH with operationalization of the said facility slated on the second or third week of June.

With increased testing capabilities, Bohol may be able to allow more overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and locally stranded individuals (LSI) to return here.

Galvez and party immediately returned to Manila after the turnover of the PCR machine and the PPEs.

BIG PROBLEM

In a mini presscon, Galvez said the country is facing a huge problem with the OFWs. Dubai has declared 70% of their companies are shutting down due to Covid 19. The expectation is that 150,000 OFW will return to the country. At this time he said, about 30,000 OFWs are stranded in Manila. About 12,000 have already returned home, he said.

Galvez said the aim is to declog Metro Manila by sending the OFWs home to their respective provinces.

He assured that strict protocols will be in place to protect the people.

In the same presscon, Galvez assured of coordination between the national IATF and the local government units (LGU).

On the other hand, Dizon sees that the molecular lab in Bohol may be accredited within two to three weeks. Dizon emphasized the importance of testing especially for Bohol where tourism is the primary economic driver.

It was mentioned by Dizon that the tourism department and the IATF agreed to use Bohol as one of the models in the reopening of the tourism sector. To make that happen, the first requirement is to have a robust testing capacity.

Dizon said, it would be necessary for all international airports to have a molecular lab nearby.

IMPRESSED

Galvez said he is impressed with the way Yap is handling the Covid situation in Bohol, as the province has remained “Covid free”.

He said he is coordinating with Yap to boost Bohol’s capability as it is may be difficult to remain Covid free forever.

NO BACKRIDE POLICY REMAINS

Another point discussed during the Galvez visit was the matter on the “no backride policy”. Galvez said that as social distancing is a key to the prevention of the spread of the virus, the no backride policy may be relaxed in areas under general community quarantine. In this connection, Galvez said the local government unit leaders may have a collective decision regarding the no backride policy.

REMINDER

In the same event, the governor reminded the public that the guidelines for the return of the LSIs have been released. Once the requirements are completed, the LSIs may be able to return to the province.

The LSIs need to coordinate with their respective town’s focal person for the first step in the process for an LSI return to the province.

The province has started to open its doors to repatriated OFWs and returning LSIs.