Tumulak appeals help for city jail

CEBU, Philippines — While the Cebu City government is doing its best to help COVID-infected Cebu City Jail (CCJ), Councilor David Tumulak has appealed for more help for the inmates and jail personnel.

“Nagkinahanglan gihapon sila sa inyong (public) mga ayuda,” said Tumulak.

As of yesterday, the city jail has logged 146 COVID cases.

Tumulak said the city government donated face masks and face shields to CCJ, a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-run facility.

"Nakapada natag mga pasiunang tabang ngadto nila sama sa face mask ug ingon man face shield. Apan dili pa gyud kini paigo,” he said.

Those who are willing to help, he said, can drop off donations outside the penitentiary.

Moreover, Tumulak said the city government already tapped the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) to supply CCJ water.

The water, he said, is vital in keeping the jail environment clean amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said water shortage in the facility is a recurring issue owing to the huge number of inmates.

CCJ houses over 7,000 male and female inmates. It was designed to hold only 1,000 inmates.

Barangay Isolation Center

Meanwhile, Tumulak has urged the city's barangays to establish their own Barangay Isolation Centers (BICs).

The BICs will be used to cater asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.

"Atong nasayran gikan mismo sa mga positibo na asymptomatic nga nakadawat na silag mga pagpanghadlok o discrimination sa dihang nasayran nga sila positibo apan way gipamati sa lawas," said Tumulak.

"Hinungdan nga nakapadugang kini sa ilahang kaguol gumikan sa ilahang kahadlok nga napositibo sila. Gipun-an pa sa mga tawo nga kanunay nga magtamay o magbugal-bugal ngadto kanila," he added.

Tumulak said barangay officials should coordinate with the city government in the creation of their BICs for additional assistance.

He said the city will also assist the barangays by providing patients with food.

"Bisan pa man tood og ang mga barangay wala pay nahimong nagpositibo sailahang lugar, apan mas maayo man gud nga mangandam ta daan," he said.

Barangays with COVID cases like Labangon and Luz have utilized schools as their BICs.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said there are already 18 BICs in the city, which are being monitored by the doctors and nurses of the Department of Health and the Cebu City Health Department.  KQD (FREEMAN)