City starts buying items meant to fight COVID

CEBU, Philippines — After the Cebu City Council's approval of the P15 million budget intended for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), City Health Officer Daisy Villa said that they have started with the purchase of the needed equipment and medicines.

However, Villa said that the items will be distributed once they have been inspected.

The amount was approved during the City Council's regular session on February 12.

Villa said the frontliners are being prioritized. The purchased items will be distributed to Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), City Health Department (CHD) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

"It will be given to offices that really need it, especially the sanitizers and alcohol that we have to distribute. We also purchased medicines," said Villa.

She said they purchased N95 mask and personal protective equipment (ppe), including gowns, to name a few.

For Villa, the amount of P15 million is "okay" since in the plan they submitted, "the rest of the budget is more on the trainings."

With regard to a quarantine facility, she stated that they suggested the City Resources Management and Development Center (CREMDEC) in Barangay Taptap since it is far from the metro. She said one room contains at least 50 beds.

"We checked the facilities and I think it is very conducive," said Villa.

Under Quarantine

Meanwhile, only 15 persons under monitoring (PUMs) are staying in the quarantine facility owned and managed by the Province of Cebu, according to provincial health officer Dr. Christina Giango.

The remaining PUMs are staying in the Women and Children Development Center in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Yesterday, February 19, one PUM was released from the facility in Lahug after having completed that 14-day quarantine period.

Three PUMs assigned to the quarantine facility in Pinamungajan have also been transferred to the Lahug facility.

“Ang nahibilin didto sa Pinamungajan is tulo nya amo na silang i-transfer sa women’s center para bakante na sad didto,” she said.

Giango explained that they cannot introduce new PUMs to the ones already in quarantine as it would reintroduce the threat of possible contamination of COVID-19 to them.

“Kung dili magdungan ug abot, di man siya pwede gud masagulan… magsige ug balik ug day zero kung pun-an sila,” she said.  JMD (FREEMAN)