WILL WRITE DUTERTE

Bohol governor says province not ready for downgraded quarantine due to COVID-19 risk

The province of Bohol cannot go into downgraded quarantine rules just yet or it will risk having COVID-19 transmission, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said Wednesday. 

Yap was responding to the national government’s declaration that Bohol province—which has no local COVID-19 case so far—is a low COVID-19 risk area and will be on general community quarantine (GCQ) starting May 1. 

Under a GCQ, malls and commercial centers may open and mass transport can operate, but on a scaled down level and with strict observance of social distancing.  

“Madaling sabihin na low risk kayo. But the LGUs should be given the flexibility and latitude in deciding on enforcing quarantine rules. We have to customize it kasi hindi nila naiintindihan ang situation on the ground,” Yap said during a forum.

“Sa isang banda, andu'n iyong pressure na magbukas na, but the risk around us continues,” Yap added.

Yap said the province cannot afford to have local transmission of COVID-19, considering that its health care facilities are limited and much of the province’s lifeblood depends on the tourism sector which has been grounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We do not have enough ventilators if we have to intubate someone, enough cardiac monitors or X-rays. Madaling sabihin na COVID-19 free kayo, low-risk kayo, buksan niyo lahat iyan. Pero kapag may na-infect rito, that would burden our healthcare capacity,” Yap said. 

“Kung ganu'n, imbes na makatulong kami sa national government, nakadagdag pa kami sa problema,” Yap added.
 
Yap then said that local government units should be allowed to modify quarantine rules as they see fit amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that he will send a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte to urge him to reconsider placing Bohol under general community quarantine.

“Dapat bigyan ng direction ang LGUs to fight COVID-19,”  Yap said.

“Yes, we can work with general community quarantine, but under our Local Government Code, the local officials have the flexibility to exercise our mandate under the general welfare clause of the law for the benefit of our constituents,” Yap added.

Bohol is under enhanced community quarantine until April 30.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said the National Capital Region, Central Luzon except Aurora, CALABARZON, Pangasinan, Benguet, Baguio City, Iloilo province, Cebu province, Cebu City and Davao City will remain under ECQ until May 15. The rest of the country will be under GCQ, he said.

As of 5 p.m. of Tuesday, April 28, Bohol said it recorded 9,385 persons under monitoring for COVID-19.

The province's lone case of COVID-19 was that of a Chinese national who was discharged on Jan. 31.

 —KG, GMA News