Bong Go calls for more quarantine facilities

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has called anew for more quarantine facilities in every region of the country as he urged fellow lawmakers to support Senate Bill (SB) 1529, or the “Mandatory Quarantine Facilities Act of 2020,” which he filed in May.

“[Kung] mayroon na tayong nakahandang pasilidad para sa ganitong mga krisis o sakuna, mas ma bili sat mas ma bis ana ting ma pop rote kt a han an gk al usu gan ng kapwa nating Pilipino (If we have ready facilities for this kind of crisis or disaster, it would be faster and we could effectively protect the health of our fellow Filipinos). The proposed measure filed aims to address this need and establish quarantine facilities all throughout the country,” said Go, chairman of the Senate Health and Demography committee, during a public hearing.

“By isolating infected people in proper quarantine facilities, we will help prevent the further spread of any infectious disease,” he added.

The bill will direct the Department of Health (DoH) to identify locations in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs).

The Health department will operate, supervise and manage the facilities, which in turn will be equipped with a competent medical staff, adequate food and clothing.

Go welcomed efforts by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Second District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. to gather support for the counterpart bill, House Bill 7005 or the “Mandatory Quarantine Facilities Act of 2020.”

On June 29, Cagayan de Oro Second District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Surigao del Norte Second District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang expressed support for the measure.

Bataan First District Rep. Geraldine Roman said the measure was “long overdue,” adding that had the system been implemented from the beginning, the country would have “avoided the oversaturation of returning OFWs in Metro Manila and the humongous delays they encountered.”

Quezon City Second District Rep. Precious Hipolito- Castelo and Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon also voiced their support.

Go earlier recommended additional action be taken to improve the country’s pandemic response. He filed SB 1226, also known as the “DoH Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act,” which aims to provide a more efficient process to increase the bed capacity and improve the service capability of public hospitals.

“Under current regulations, a DoH hospital can only increase its bed capacity and improve its service capability through legislation,” the senator said. “Ayusin po nat inang prose so para matulun gan nan an gang ail an gang mag pa ga mot.Kap ag ma a yo san gk al us ug an angpag-asensongbayan (Let us improve the process so we could help our countrymen who need medication. If the Filipinos are healthy, the country’s progress will be faster).”

The senator also filed SB 1528, which will amend Republic Act 11332 or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.” The bill aims to address the gaps and inefficient mechanisms in the country’s disease surveillance system by mandating the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist in contact tracing efforts.

The bill also directs the establishment of sub-national laboratories in all DoH regional hospitals and allows LGUs to set up their own laboratories and epidemiology and surveillance units.

“Kung mas rumami pa ang mg a pas yen teattu lu yang ma lamp as anang bi langng mg a pas yenten aka yang ala ga ann gating mga health facilities, babagsak po ang ating health care system. Aksyunan na dapat ito ( If the number of patients is bigger than the capacity of our health facilities, our healthcare system will go down. We have to act on this),” said Go.