ILOILO – Mayor Jaime Esmeralda ordered the reopening of the town hall of Igbaras and the resumption of operation of the municipal government even if for limited services only.
“We just could not afford nga ma-paralyze totally ang offices. Ang mga tawo may immediate or emergency transactions,” he said.
Esmeralda, a physician, immediately suspended all work at the municipal hall on June 2 and ordered it closed after a member of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) – a 55-year-old male – became Igbaras’ first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Among the offices that resumed operation on June 8 were the municipal treasurer’s office and mayor’s office.
Esmeralda said municipal government employees not deemed “high-risk” – had less or no contact at all with the SB member or with people who had close contact with the official – were the ones tasked to deal with clients paying taxes and seeking permits, among others.
Esmeralda was unsure when would the town hall operate fully. So far, he said, only 10 of the 150 identified close contacts of the COVID-positive SB member had their test results released (all negative). These 10 worked at the SB office and mayor’s office.
“We thought one week would be enough as waiting period for the results of the tests,” said Esmeralda.
Specimens extracted from the 150 close contacts of the SB member were being tested at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) sub-national laboratory in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Esmeralda said the 10 negative test results were encouraging. He hoped the 140 others would also test negative for COVID-19.
“Ang 10 nga ini ara sa SBoffice kag tatlo ari sa mayor’s office,” said Esmeralda.
He urged WVMC to hasten the tests and the release of the results.
The “agony of waiting” for the results was making people more anxious, he said.
Esmeralda also said his people felt discrimination.
“Damo nagareklamo sa akon nga ginapalagyohan sila kon mabal-an nga taga-Igbaras sila,” said Esmeralda, citing Igbaras jeepney drivers as example./PN
