Bohol mayors are currently looking for additional areas that will be converted into quarantine facilities following the suspension of the option for home quarantine.
This was revealed by Gov. Arthur Yap during the regular Friday press conference on June 26, 2020 at the Provincial Capitol.
The governor said it is possible that the mayors may tap the school buildings as new areas that will be converted into quarantine facilities that will house the returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Yap said the mayors may opt to use school buildings as these edifices remain idle as of now since classes are scheduled to start on August 24, 2020 yet.
“We have gotten in touch with the DepEd to please allow our mayors to personally inspect school facilities in their municipalities that can be used for quarantine facilities,” the governor said during the press conference.
Last Wednesday, the Bohol mayors agreed to suspend the option of putting the returning LSIs and OFWs under home quarantine, the governor said.
The home quarantine option was met with stiff opposition among Boholanos saying such option may be dangerous and may put public health at risk as it may be difficult for local and barangay officials to monitor and strictly enforce health protocols unlike in a local government unit (LGU) – managed quarantine facilities, reports said.
The home quarantine option is something that was left to the discretion of the mayors, based on a memorandum issued by Yap back in May 2020.
At least one (1) town in Bohol, Maribojoc, has been confirmed to have used this option after seeing that the spaces allotted in the quarantine facilities are getting filled up as LSIs return to the town and undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
According to Maribojoc Mayor Romulo Manuta, the town government has suspended the option to put returning LSIs in home quarantine after a meeting with the town’s Covid task force early this week.
SPACE SHORTAGE
LGUs in Bohol are having problems where to put the incoming LSIs due to acute shortage of areas in their respective quarantine facilities.
The lack of coordination between the LSIs and the LGUs is seen as the main reason the latter may opt to put the former under home quarantine.
According to reports, LGUs are receiving LSIs more than the former can absorb and can place in quarantine facilities.
As this developed, the governor emphasized that while the LGUs’ acceptance of LSIs is not required, it is still necessary to allow the former to prepare spaces in the quarantine facilities for the latter.
LSIs who are returning to Bohol are not required to get LGU acceptance certificates to return here, according to Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto.
She said the LSIs only need to get a medical certificate and a travel authority from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
It was earlier reported that Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque bared the suspension of travel among LSIs.
Pioquinto asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for advice and was told by Usec. Epimaco Densing that an advisory is forthcoming.
LACK OF COORDINATION
The problem of lack of coordination between the LSI and the LGU was highlighted with an incident that happened on Monday, June 22, 2020.
Allegedly, five (5) LSIs from Alfonso, Cavite tried to enter Guindulman town without coordination with the LGU.
It was learned that the alleged “fake” LSIs had no links to Guindulman town and were intercepted at the town’s checkpoint, the report given to The Bohol Tribune said.
The incident highlighted the need of coordination in order to prevent LSIs who are not bona fide Boholanos from entering Bohol, an incident that may result in endangering public health of people concernd.