CEBU, Philippines — Is Cebu City ready when, God forbid, many would turn out positive after the mass testing that will run starting tomorrow?
Cebu City Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr. said that with the start of the strategic mass coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, a contingency plan should be prepared.
“When you do mass testing, all the systems must have to be put in place,” he said.
Rama said this is necessary in case a lot of those who will undergo testing would be found positive for COVID-19.
“If ever it turns out nga daghan kaayo, ang kuyawan nako is chaos. That's one of the things that we have to anticipate... chaos,” said Rama.
He also said patients may experience discrimination and that people are also getting scared.
Rama expressed his concern during the City Council's special session Friday, May 1.
“Kung modaghan kini, how do we manage this?” he said.
He said another concern to address is if the quarantine facility will be able to accommodate a big number of COVID-19 patients.
The councilor emphasized that isolation and quarantine areas should be prepared.
Rama added that there should be assurance with the reliability of the rapid testing kits to be used.
To recall, Department of Health-7 Director Jaime Bernadas said rapid testing kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be used in testing individuals at the barangay level. The rapid test kit is not, however, the standard test kit currently prescribed but the so-called PCR kit.
Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said at least 46, 000 testing kits are needed for the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.
Garcia said it was agreed between DOH-7 and the mayors that the purchase of the rapid testing kits will be per city.
Meanwhile, Councilor Antonio Cuenco raised how the subjects to the mass testing will be identified.
It was earlier reported that the testing will be done randomly, one member per household.
The mass testing is in line with the Project Balik Buhay (PBB) which was formulated through the collaborative efforts of DOH-7, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, and other agencies.
PBB is a plan that is evidence-based and data-driven which will serve as the basis of the three local government units (LGUs) to either continue with the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status or to slowly transition to general community quarantine (GCQ) status.
Councilor Nestor Archival, in a corollary motion, proposed to conduct a conference on Tuesday, May 5, with the executive department headed by Mayor Edgardo Labella, DOH-7, City Health Department, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and the police, among others.
This in order to get the "right answers and the right inputs" with regard to PBB.
"We have spent too much time on COVID discussions of which in the discussion, we have so many questions but we have less answers. And, we don't know if the answers are correct," said Archival.
In addition, Councilor Alvin Dizon requested the Office of the Mayor to provide the City Council the blueprint of the PBB so that they will be properly guided with their legislative appropriation as to its implementation.
Mandaue
The cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu will also conduct strategic community testing for 10 days, starting tomorrow to May 13.
The Mandaue City government, through its Facebook page, announced conducting the following schedule per barangay.
May 4: Canduman and Umapad; May 5: Bakilid, Banilad, and Tipolo; May 6: Tawason, Casili, Cubacub, Basak, and Tingub; May 7: Cabancalan, Casuntingan, Maguikay, and Ibabao-Estancia; May 8: Alang-alang, Guizo, Looc, and Mantuyong; May 9: Tabok and Pagsabungan;
May 10: Subangdaku, Cambaro, and Opao; May 11: Centro, Labogon, and Jagobaio; May 12: Paknaan; May 13: Paknaan.
“If you are chosen to be tested, you will be informed ahead of time. Once you have been tested, please stay home after testing and await your result,” the statement read.
Lapu-Lapu
In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said that this test is the most important part of their battle against the unseen coronavirus.
“Ang pagpahigayon og rapid testing ang nag-inusarang paagi nga kitang tanan mahuman niiing atong kalbaryo. Dili na nako mag-agwanta, nga makakita sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga magping-it sa kalisud tungod sa pagkawala sa ilang trabaho nga dala niining COVID-19,” said Chan in his post.
During strategic rapid testing, he said, nine medical teams will test 10 percent of the total households in every barangay and they will be chosen randomly.
Those tested positive will be housed in one of the city’s isolation facilities for 14 days. The city’s isolation facilities are Lapu-Lapu City College, City Central School, and Babag Elementary School.
Chan said the isolation facilities are secured 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Each room is also monitored by CCTV camera, has Wi-Fi connectivity to keep patients connected to their loved ones, and keep them updated of what’s going on outside the facility.
Here’s the schedule of testing in Lapu-Lapu:
May 4: Marigondon, Agus, and Subabasbas; May 5: Gun-ob and Calawisan; May 6: Babag and Looc; May 7: Basak; May 8: Pusok and Canjulao; May 9: Mactan and Punta Engano; May 10: Maribago and Pajac; May 11: Pajo, Poblacion, and Ibo; May 12: Bankal and Buaya; May 13: Olango and surrounding islands. JMD (FREEMAN)