On-site swab tests roll-out for undocumented LSIs in Region 1 border

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, May 31 (PIA) - - Health workers from Pangasinan has rolled-out an on-site massive swab testing to all undocumented locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at the border-checkpoint  between  Regions 1 and 3 located in Barangay Anonas, Rosales, Pangasinan to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) virus.

ON SITE SWAB TEST. Health worker in Pangasinan conducts an on-site swab testing for an undocumented locally stranded individual (LSI) at the border-checkpoint of Region 1 in Barangay Anonas, Rosales, Pangasinan on Saturday. The activity is initiated by the provincial government of Pangasinan. (Photo by: FGL,PIA 1) 

 

During the ocular inspection of the members of the Incident Management Team (IMT) of the Regional Task Force 1 COVID–19 (RTF1 COVID-19) on Saturday, a total of 48 LSIs have undergone swabbing tests before they onboarded the vehicles provided by their respective local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan.

INSPECTION. Members of the Incident Management Team led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand De Asis of the RTF1 COVID-19 conducted inspection at the border-checkpoint of Region 1 located in Barangay Anonas, Rosales, Pangasinan to monitor and  recommend other precautionary measures for the efficient prevention of possible entry of COVID–19 infected individuals. (Photo by: FGL,PIA1)

 

The trained local health workers used the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 testing.

 

According to Vincent Chiu of the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO),  as of 5:00 PM on Saturday, their office listed a total of 69 undocumented LSIs at the border-checkpoint of Regions 1 and 3.

 

“The remaining 21 LSIs will undergo swab test next week,” said Chiu.

 

Chiu clarified that these undocumented LSIs, who wanted to go home in Pangasinan, came from Metro Manila and other regions in the country.

 

“These LSIs in the checkpoint were considered undocumented after they failed to present their health certificate, travel authority, and quarantine pass from their point of origin before they can enter the province,” said Chiu.

oat the Region 1 border in Barangay Anonas, Rosales, Pangasinan. (Photo by: FGL, PIA1)  

 

To facilitate the entry of the undocumented LSIs, who are residents in Pangasinan, Governor Amado “Pogi” Espino III instructed the local health personnel to conduct on-site swab testing activity at the border-checkpoint.

 

“After the swab testing, these LSIs were brought by the concerned LGU to the facility provided for a 14 –day quarantine while they are waiting for the result of their swab test. We will not allow any private vehicle to ferry these LSIs to further ensure that they will brought to the quarantine facility provided by the LGU before they can go home in case they have a negative result on COVID-19,” said Chiu.

 

Meanwhile, the IMT led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand De Asis of the RTF1 COVID-19 conducted an inspection on the checkpoint operations at the borders of Region 1 to monitor the situations and to recommend other precautionary measures for the efficient prevention of possible entry of COVID–19 infected individuals.

Responder from the San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), in coordination with the DRRMO in Rosales town and Pangasinan province conducts disinfection activity at the premises of the checkpoint at the Region 1 border along the national highway in Barangay Anonas, Rosales town to ensure the health safety of the LSIs and the COVID–19 frontliners. (Photo by: FGL, PIA 1)

 

The team also inspected the drop-off points of the returning Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) at the exit point of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan; and in Barangay Udiao, Rosario, La Union.  

 

Aside from the border checkpoint in Rosales, Pangasinan, other regional border checkpoints being strictly manned by the police and other members of the RTF1 COVID 19 are located in the towns of Infanta, Mangatarem, Cuyapo and Umingan, all in Pangasinan. (JCR/FGL, PIA 1)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)