BY MAE SINGUAY and DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – More than 4,300 residents from this city’s 61 barangays availed themselves of free testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the two-day “O-Plan: One-Time Big-Time Mass Testing” program of the city government.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the initiative was still an overall success despite falling short of the targeted 5,000 individuals, saying this proactive measure will help authorities determine how widespread the viral disease has become.
Based from the latest data of the City Health Office (CHO), a total of 4,384 individuals were tested from Aug. 28 to 29, including the Aug. 27 dry run.
On Friday, the swab testing was conducted for residents of barangays Banago, Estefania, Granada, Alangilan, Bata, Villamonte, Montevista, and Singcang-Airport, as well as barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 34, 35, 36, 38, and 39.
Identified individuals who underwent swabbing on Saturday were from barangays Taculing, Handumanan, Cabug, Felisa, Mandalagan, Mansilingan, Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Tangub, Alijis, Vista Alegre along with barangays 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 40 and 41.
The screened and identified individuals were directed to proceed to one of the 18 swabbing centers assigned to them, which include the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports (BAYS) Center, public elementary school campuses, and barangay gymnasiums.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19, said the day before, an initial 1,004 target individuals were already swabbed.
Although the target fell short, majority of city residents complied and stayed home during the “no movement policy.
Leonardia thanked the cooperation of the residents, those who have submitted themselves for testing, and the participation of various government agencies in implementing the mass testing in the city.
Leonardia also lifted his executive order on “no movement policy” which came into effect at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
He revealed that a meeting between medical societies, religious leaders, and representatives of the business sector in response to the medical doctors’ request for recess due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the city will be made today.
The city will also reinstitute the use of home quarantine passes starting Sept. 3 to15, which will be distributed to each household in Bacolod City as well as maintaining the current border and checkup points.
On Sunday and Monday, the mass testing was conducted simultaneously in Talisay, Silay, Bago, and Murcia to reach the remaining 5,000 target individuals./PN
