Go reiterates call for more quarantine facilities

Sen. Bong Go again called for the establishment of quarantine facilities in every region of the country, as he urged fellow lawmakers to support Senate Bill No. 1529 or the “Mandatory Quarantine Facilities Act of 2020” filed by the senator last May 13.

“The proposed measure aims to address this need and establish quarantine facilities all throughout the country,” said the chairman of the Senate committee on health during a recent public hearing. “By isolating infected people in proper quarantine facilities, we will help prevent the further spread of any infectious disease.”

The bill will direct the Department of Health (DOH) to identify locations in close coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and local government units. The DOH shall operate, supervise and manage the facilities, which will be equipped with a competent medical staff, adequate food and clothing.

Go welcomed efforts by Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. to gather support for the counterpart bill, House Bill No. 7005 or the “Mandatory Quarantine Facilities Act of 2020,” principally authored by the Camarines Sur representative.

The bill’s explanatory note justifies the necessity of the establishment of quality quarantine facilities due to the “constant emergence of various highly contagious and seriously infectious kinds of illnesses, most especially with the recent outbreak of COVID-19.”

On June 29, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang expressed support for the measure. In a statement of support, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman described the measure as “long overdue.” Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo and Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon also voiced their support.

According to the World Health Organization, the quarantine of persons is the restriction of activities or separation of persons who are not ill but may have been exposed to an infectious disease, with the objective of monitoring their symptoms. Introducing quarantine measures early in an outbreak is vital to delaying the peak of an epidemic.

Meanwhile, Go earlier recommended additional actions 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 and systematic process to increasing the bed capacity and improving the service capability of public hospitals. Presently, DOH-run hospitals often lack appropriate infrastructure, adequate staffing, maintenance and operating resources which result in longer waiting times for patients and delays in their treatment.