DepEd asked to allow use of schools longer

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak has appealed to the Department of Education (DepEd) to allow the city government to continue using public schools as barangay isolation centers (BICs) for COVID-19, the time period subject to the advice of health authorities.

Tumulak said the June 15 extension DepEd will not be enough because many patients are yet to complete their quarantine period and the transfer of asymptomatic patients to the BICs is still ongoing.

“Daily, naa tay transfer. In the South District, we have also to admit nga daghan kaayong mga slum areas… kanang dili capable of home quarantine,” Tumulak said.

(We transfer patients daily. We have to admit that in the South District, we have many slum areas and patients are not capable of home quarantine.)

The city has 19 BICs where asymptomatic positive patients are being isolated for at least 14 days.

“Suggest ta nila (DepEd) nga ang health department will coordinate to them (We suggest that our health department coordinate with them) as to the status of the COVID pandemic. We need to collaborate with each other because we admit that the schools are very useful as of this time,” Tumulak said.

“Can you imagine, labi na if ang atong mga positive asymptomatic patients naa sa atoang community? It will be a risk to our community,” Tumulak said.

“Ang fear lang nako is if ever ato nang i-transfer sa community ang atong mga asymptomatic, naa man gud ang discrimination sa atoang mga patients, at the same time, fear sa atoang mga residents,” he added.

(My fear is that the positive asymptomatic patients will be discriminated against when they are transferred back to the community, at the same time, the fear among the residents.)

Tumulak said that at BICs, patients do not experience discrimination. It is also where they can have their healing process psychologically, mentally, and physically.

The councilor assured that schools will be disinfected in preparation for the opening of classes.

“We urge the public to stay at home, observe social distancing, wear face mask, (have) proper hygiene, boost (their) immune system to end this COVID crisis,” Tumulak said.

“Gipangkapoy na ato mga medical frontliners, barangay officials, workers, volunteers, government officials, employees, and volunteers. All is left is our faith and dedication to serve,” he added.

(Our medical frontliners, barangay officials, workers, volunteers, government officials, employees, and volunteers are tired. All is left is our faith and dedication to serve.)

As of May 23, there are already 1,872 cases in the city. JMO (FREEMAN)