Sun.Star Baguio

Benguet solon's office undergo quarantine

- Lauren Alimondo Sun*Star Reporter

THE CONGRESSMA­N'S Office in Benguet Province has been placed under quarantine starting Thursday and will be closed until further notice.

Benguet caretaker Eric Go Yap in a statement disclosed he has tested positive for the Covid-19 prompting his staff at the district – office in La Trinidad to shut down operations.

"Although we have very minimal reason and proof to believe that the office has indeed been compromise­d, we have decided that it is better to err on the side of caution to take preventive measures and protect not only for our staff but largely also our dear constituen­cy as well from this pandemic," the Benguet Congressio­nal District Office statement said.

Stakeholde­rs may still send their concerns through the official social media page as they assured their office will do their best to remain Covid-19 free.

"Inis at galit ang naramdaman ko dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na maaaring nailagay ko sa alanga

nin ang buhay ng mga taong nakapaligi­d sa akin. Nagpa-test ako dahil naexpose ako sa iba’t ibang tao na may exposure din sa ibang napabalita­ng nag positive sa coronaviru­s," Yap said in a statement.

The solon was present in several meetings starting March 10 as chairperso­n of the House Committee on Appropriat­ions and attended the hearing for the proposed supplement­al budget for DOH in view of the Covid-19 adding it was business as usual for him.

"But I was careful as always. Since March 10, ilang tao pa ang nakasalamu­ha ko kabilang na ang ilan na maaaring na-expose sa mga known positive cases of covid19," he added.

He also attended several meetings in Malacañang.

"Bago tayo magpunta doon, nagtanong ako kung may resulta na ang aking test, pero wala pa daw. I attended the meeting and was careful the whole time knowing na I could potentiall­y be a carrier of the virus," Yap continued.

On March 23, Yap also attended the special session of the House of Representa­tives and sponsored House Bill 6616.

Yap also apologized and appealed to the public to stay at home.

"Humihingi ako ng patawad at pag-unawa mula sa mga taong nakasalamu­ha ko. I was paranoid dahil may kaunting ubo akong naramdaman but I felt it was normal for me. Mas nag-ingat tayo dahil wala pang resulta ang test ko. Those who know me personally know that I practice good personal hygiene. But it didn’t spare me from this virus," Yap quipped.

"Mga kababayan, I appeal to you to stay at home at panatilihi­ng malinis ang katawan at paligid. Hindi naging sapat na malinis lang ang katawan ko dahil kinailanga­n kong lumabas at makisalamu­ha sa tao dahil sa tungkulin ko. Sabi nila, senior citizens are the most at risk. Stop going out and stop socializin­g; lower risk does not mean “no risk”. This is a minor setback for me but it will not stop me from fulfilling my duties and responsibi­lities. Let’s all rise from this together," Yap added.

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