Malacañang orders Cebu: Follow IATF rules

CEBU, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday ordered the province of Cebu to follow the protocols for arriving passengers set by the national government.

The national government's protocols require returning Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers to undergo quarantine for at least 10 days and swab tests on the seventh day from arrival.

Under an executive order issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, which was adopted into a provincial ordinance, passengers of international flights will be swabbed upon arrival at the Mactan Cebu International Airport and will wait for their results in a hotel. If they test negative, they can proceed to their point of destination and undergo home quarantine. They will be tested again on the seventh day.

But Malacañang, it appears, is not convinced of Cebu’s policy even after a conversation with Garcia and Duterte at the Palace.

"This news just came in from the Office of the Executive Secretary: The President has decided that the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) protocols must be implemented by Cebu Province," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday at a press briefing.

"The last extension was just a preparation for full implementation of that decision," he said, referring to the national government's decision to extend the diversion of all international flights bound for Cebu to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport until June 12.

The flight diversion, which was recommended by the IATF, was initially imposed from May 29 to June 5 as a precautionary measure against the further spread of COVID-19.

“The President has also considered the DOH (Department of Health) critique and has decided that Cebu province must abide by IATF arrival protocols,” Roque said.

Asked what the national government would do if Cebu insists on implementing its own protocols, Roque replied: "I am not aware of what the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) will do. Perhaps that is a question better asked from the DILG."

The DILG-Cebu Province, for its part, said it will wait for an order from the central office on the matter.

“Actually wala pa ko kakuha sa guidelines sa bag-ong directive sa sa President. If ever, maghulat mi unsay guideline nga i-require sa amoang taas,” said DILG-Cebu Province Director Jhoaden Lucero.

She said DILG-Cebu Province was in the meetings with Garcia that discussed the Cebu policy on arriving OFWs and ROFs and sees the wisdom behind the rule.

“Actually, apil mi sa mga meeting with Gov and other stakeholders and which is nakita pud namo ang importance and significance ang kadto nga pamaagi, so yes, walay problema gyud sa amoa,” she said.

Garcia has not commented on the issue as of yesterday.

On May 31, 2021, she flew to Malacañang to speak with Duterte on the policy and to present the COVID-19 situation in Cebu.

Garcia said the policy was issued with the welfare of the OFWs and ROFs in mind, particularly those who are returning due to unforeseen circumstances.

“Sometimes they do not even have enough cash to pay for the ticket, they borrow money and do cash advance. And they come home, that’s because there’s a reason. It is in time of emergency. It’s either there’s a member of the family who is very sick or someone has died,” Garcia said.

Roque said this aspect was taken into consideration.

"There was in fact an understanding over the issue of humanity as far as the 10-day quarantine period for OFWs is concerned and, of course, there’s the reality that Cebu Province has been on MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) for the past 10 months,” he said.

But Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson and chief pathologist of the Department of Health (DOH)-7, said, “as to fairness and logical evaluation that is the big question.”

She said DOH-7 will defer to Garcia’s instructions.

“Once we have the clear guidance, then I will issue an official statement to the above protocol,” Loreche said.

She said OFWs are “modern day heroes” but are “neglected and unfairly treated” as possible carriers of COVID-19 variants when all they want is to be home with their families.

Loreche who was at the Mactan airport during the resumption of inbound international flights said she was touched by the reaction of OFWs to the protocols in Cebu.

A total of 267 passengers – 147 OFWs, 49 ROFs, and 38 foreign nationals – from Singapore and South Korea arrived at MCIAA on Sunday, June 13, 2021. — Philippine Star News Service, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMO (FREEMAN)