OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Sep. 7 (PIA)—Ozamiz City Mayor Sancho Fernando Oaminal calls on the public for cooperation, discipline and obedience to the health standards and protocols to control the increasing cases in the city.
The number of cases in Ozamiz is high because the local government through the City Health Office has been testing individuals including those who are not prioritized based on the guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH), the mayor said.
Oaminal cited the role of barangay officials as well as the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) to contain the spread of the virus.
“Let us help each other, If we follow the protocols, it can stop the spread, wear face masks, observe social distancing,” Oaminal said.
Continuous health service
The minimum guidelines set by the DOH have been enhanced by the city as they conduct a rapid test for returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and isolate in a separate facility those who yield positive results in the rapid testing.
Those who test negative are also required to undergo the 14-day quarantine in another area. After the quarantine, instead of automatically releasing them back into the community, the returning residents are required to undergo rapid testing and those who test positive must undergo the swab testing.
All quarantine facilities in the city including barangay facilities were checked and approved by a representative from the DOH and are constantly monitored by the City Health Office. These quarantine facilities are found compliant of the DOH guidelines.
“Our facilities may not have five-star amenities, we may not have luxurious equipment but they are compliant. Hangyo lang mi sa pagsabot sa tanan (We ask for understanding from everyone), remember we are facing the pandemic, we are not on vacation," Oaminal said.
Oaminal acknowledged the exhaustion of the frontliners noting that they are overwhelmed with their tasks but emphasized that with the government's support, nobody will surrender to the pandemic.
Furthermore, the mayor sought the public’s help to stop the spread of disinformation.
“Let us be responsible with our posts and comments, let us learn the facts first so that it can generate panic. We are not hiding any facts, ang mga posts nga makadaot lamang sa atong mga local officials ang dili gayud makatabang sa krisis nga atong gi-atubang karon (the posts that could only ruin our local officials will not really help in this time of crisis),” he said.
As for quarantine status, Oaminal said it is President Rodrigo Duterte who can enforce such. Mayors are not given the authority to place their areas of responsibility under a certain quarantine status.
"There are conditions to be complied with before a community can be placed under a quarantine status. Still, that should not stop the Ozamiznons to think and act like we are under MECQ. Disiplina ang gikinahanglan. Kitang tanan ang makasolbad niini nga problema (We all need discipline. All of us can solve this problem),” Oaminal said.
Oaminal added that failure to adhere to health protocols of LSIs just like in Malaubang will result to numerous local transmissions.
As of September 1, there are 92 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ozamiz City of which 48 are active cases, and 44 have recovered. (SMRN/PIA Misamis Occidental)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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