Bohol sets up village-level isolation centers

“THE POLICY of Bohol is aggressive prevention.” This was a statement posted by Governor Arthur C. Yap on his Facebook page on March 27 as he called on residents to “assume that we are all asymptomatic COVIDinfected individuals,” which is why there is a need for such measures as social distancing, wearing of masks, and undergoing quarantine. Bohol, among the first local governments to have entry restrictions including temporarily closing its airport on March 16, has so far managed to have no person afflicted with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after one case, a Chinese tourist, tested positive but has since recovered. Another measure that is being undertaken in the island province, one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, is setting up at least one isolation center in every barangay where persons under investigation or monitoring (PUI/ PUM) could be housed to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. “The provincial government of Bohol is requiring an isolation room in each household and if it’s not possible, an isolation area in the barangay should be available,” Mr. Yap said. A total of 1,168 village-level isolation centers are being readied in the province’s 1,109 barangays. “If there are spill outs, municipal isolation centers should also be available,” the governor said. Bohol has one city, the capital Tagbilaran, and 47 municipalities. The provincial capitol’s annex building has also been set up as an 80-bed medical facility to augment the 250-bed Gallares Hospital, which has been designated as the COVID-19 treatment center. As of April 1, the province had 446 PUIs, with 20 admitted in hospital and the rest in home isolation. PUMs, all on home quarantine, were 934. Meanwhile, the provincial government has also set up its Offshore Boholanos Coordinating Team, which is tasked to help locals outside the province, with priority for students and displaced workers, in coming home. Mr. Yap said he has also been discussing with officials of the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, and First Consolidated Bank “to find ways on channeling funds” to provide economic packages for micro, small, and medium enterprises as well as those in the agriculture and fishery sectors. —