The members of the newly-formed Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (B-IATF) are now ready for their respective tasks as they converged in an organizational meeting yesterday, Monday (June 1, 2020).

As the new provincial body that will be handling Bohol’s response against Covid-19 is duly prepared with the assigned tasks, the B-IATF members met at the new Capitol building with B-IATF chair, Gov. Arthur Yap as presiding officer.

Reports say that Yap, is taking chairmanship of B-IATF, a body who is now in charge of the fight against Covid 19, taking the place of the Provincial Emergency Management Administration (PEMA).

The B-IATF takes over the role previously handled by the PEMA in terms of responding to the challenges of the Covid pandemic.

The June 1, 2020 B-IATF meeting was attended by various agencies from the provincial government, national government, and the private sector representatives.

Reports say that one of the topics discussed in the meeting was the possibility of placing Bohol under the modified GCQ, possibly happening after June 15, 2020.

To remember, the implementation of the GCQ in Bohol is until June 15, 2020.

In the same meeting, the operations of the molecular laboratory inside Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) was also discussed.

The same reports also say that the meeting’s attendees discussed “new normal” protocols that will be implemented in the major points of entry in Bohol such as the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) and the Bohol seaports such as those located in Tagbilaran, Talibon, and Jagna, among others.

Furthermore, the meeting also discussed B-IATF’s plan to acquire mobile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines through the help of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

These machines will be for the testing of those who will visit Bohol in order to enhance the province’s contact tracing capabilities.