Provinces ask DepEd to convert classrooms into isolation centers

Provinces, especially those classified as lower ranked, have requested the Department of Education (DepEd) to use classrooms as temporary isolation facilities, the League of Provinces of the Philippines said Sunday.

"Iba sa probinsiya at LGUs (local government units) lalo na sa lower ranked. Hindi masyadong marami ang isolation facilities niyan at kulang sa pondo (The situation is different in provinces and LGUs, especially those lower ranked. They do not have enough isolation facilities and they lack funds)," League of Provinces of the Philippines president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

Velasco raised this concern after more LGUs opened their borders to travelers following the national government's decision allowing leisure travel for all ages in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) as well as modified GCQ. According to the Department of Tourism, reopening to tourists will still be subjected to strict health protocols from LGUs.

For his part, Velasco reminded LGUs to impose requirements for travelers such as negative COVID-19 test results to prevent an increase in infections amid detection of variants.

"Nag-iingat din kami at mas maganda kung may testing, either RT/PCR at antigen test. (We are being careful and it would be better if there is a requirement of RT/PCR and antigen test)," Velasco said.

More vaccines for provinces

To boost the protection of people in the provinces against the coronavirus, Velasco reiterated his suggestion to send more COVID-19 vaccines for provinces with high infection rates.

He added that some provinces have reported higher infection rate, and if this continues, hospitals and quarantine centers will be overwhelmed.

"Kailangan makita nang mabuti ang pag-deploy... Kailangan tignan ang allocation. E baka 'yung ibang requirements na hindi masyadong mataas ang temperatura... Halimbawa 'yung Moderna ibigay sa lalawigan na mataas ang sipa ng hawaan," he said, adding that some provinces do not have adequate cold storage facilities.

(We need to monitor the deployment [of vaccines]. We need to allocate vaccines depending on the temperature... For example Moderna vaccines can be given to LGUs with high transmission rate.)

For now, Velasco said they are awaiting the arrival of AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccine, which are expected in July and August.

A recent report from the independent OCTA Research Team showed that Cagayan de Oro City, Iloilo City, Butuan, Dumaguete, Tuguegarao, Tacloban, and Cotabato City are LGUs of concern because of high hospital bed utilization rates. —KG, GMA News