Guardo denies selling ‘tuob’ kits

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo has belied allegations that he sold the steam inhalation or “tuob” kits purchased by the city government for isolated coronavirus patients.

“I did not sell the kits,” he said.

He said patients isolated at the barangay isolation centers (BICs) in the city received the kits for free.

“Each patient was provided with a tuob kit to avoid sharing and to avoid contamination,” he said.

The councilor posted on his Facebook account the documents consisting of the lists of recipients of tuob kits to “clarify” the allegations, which he said might be politically motivated.

“Very transparent and detailed when the kits were released and distributed,” he said.

The tuob kits were distributed to the 25 BICs in the city, with the majority of the kits delivered to Barangay Mambaling, based on the stock inventory data sheet released by Guardo.

Barangay Mambaling received over 300 kits owing to the high number of cases there in the past.

The city government spent P2.5 million to acquire 1,000 inhalation kits. Each kit costs P2,500.

Guardo and Councilor Nestor Archival authored Resolution No. 15-2547-2020, requesting the executive department to consider the practice of tuob as a preventive measure against the severe respiratory disease.

Guardo said the city recorded more recoveries 14 days after distributing the kits.

“Wa ko ni-claim na ang tuob gyud ang naka-ayo nila pero naka-ingon ko nga nakatabang gyud ang tuob kit nila,” he said.

The P2,500 worth tuob kit consists of one electric water heater/steamer, one steam gown, one adult bath towel, two hand towels, one industrial plastic chair, and one water basin.

Another 1,000 kits donated by private firms were also distributed to the police.  KQD (FREEMAN)