2 city dads defend use of BIC

CEBU, Philippines —  At least two Cebu City councilors who are at the forefront in the city’s fight against COVID-19 have protested to an earlier statement of Secretary Roy Cimatu, blaming the Barangay Isolation Centers (BICs) for further spreading the virus in the community.

Councilor David Tumulak, head of the city’s COVID-19 Task Force, there is no scientific proof that the BIC was the source of community transmission of the virus. 

Cimatu, designated overseer of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in Cebu, earlier expressed his concern that the BICs might have been the source of infection in the barangays considering that these are located within the community.

The BICs which are mostly public schools house asymptomatic patients who are undergoing isolation.

“They are putting isolation centers right at the center of the barangay. At yung iba, nasa mga eskwelan na. And to me, I suspect, ito, cause din ng spread,” Cimatu was quoted in earlier reports.

His statement led to the transfer of all asymptomatic patients from the BIC to the New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (NOAH) Complex at the South Road Properties.

"If they think that the BICs is the cause of spread, how come during those days gamay lang nataptan sa COVID? Unsaon pagkatakod sa positive COVID patient nga naa man sila sulod sa BIC naka quarantine," said Tumulak.

"COVID initiatives needs prompt actions. People need our help. If they have some proof of contamination in the barangay caused by the BICs, tell it to the public with scientific evidence," he added.

Tumulak admitted that establishing BICs was his idea.

"Since March when BICs was opened, using public schools as isolation center level 1 for asymptomatic patients, many patients recovered," he said.

He said the city was blessed that the Department of Education (DepEd) allowed for the use of schools as isolation centers.

"In fairness to some barangay captains, all are complete such as water, electricity, food, among others. BICs are extension of their (patients) house away from discrimination also and contamination among family members," said Tumulak.

Councilor Joel Garganera, member of the city's COVID-19 Task Force, also clarified that more than 90 percent of the BICs are not in the middle of the barangay. He said these are schools located along the road.

He said the BICs saved the city government the limited resources because they did not spend much for it.

"Minimal kaayo ang atong expense," said Garganera.

He said the city government only spent for beds, food, and vitamins, among others.

"I take it personally sad nga when they say nga ang BIC wa'y natabang, ang BIC is the culprit, the BIC is the cause for the transmission in the community which is para nako that's totally unfair to people who are working for the BICs," said Garganera.

"Let us do this together. It's not a question of BIC or NOAH. The more, the better. But it would also be unfair nga pasanginlan ang BIC nga maoy cause sa transmission and then more so, pasanginlan pa gid ang BIC nga sayop gyud nga ibutang sa skwelahan in the very first place. That's something nga di sad ko mosugot," Garganera lamented.  FPL (FREEMAN)