MANILA – The province of Leyte is now being monitored by the government officials following the reported spike of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the area.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday that he and National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez would visit and check the situation in Tacloban City.
“Biglang nag-surge doon kasi sabi nga may mga dumating doon na LSIs at OFWs na pinagmulan ng spike,” Ano said in a radio interview.
“So kakausapin din natin ‘yung mga LGU officials doon at titingnan din natin ‘yung actual situation sa ground at kung ano rin ang kaya natin matutulong sa Leyte,” he added.
Earlier, 12 lawmakers from Eastern Visayas have called for a review of the government’s “Hatid Probinsiya” program amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region.
The lawmakers called on the Department of Health to reinforce its regional office in Eastern Visayas to be more effective in containing the spread of COVID-19 in Leyte and Samar provinces.
Meanwhile, Ano said that more security forces will be deployed in Cebu City following the enforcement of lockdown in the area.
“Magdadagdag pa tayo ng pulis dito pati kagawad ng Armed Forces para makatulong dito kasi nakita natin na kailangan talaga maquarantine ‘yung mga tao sa kanilang mga bahay kasi malaki ‘yung numero eh, nasa 4,000 ang active cases natin dito,” Año said.
The DILG chief also that said more health personnel would deployed to the city to address the spike on COVID-19 cases.
“Magdadagdag ng doktor, nurses at meron din cycle na pagkatapos magtrabaho, quarantine mo sila kahit sabihin natin hindi tinamaan para makapahinga din at dapat ‘yung ating mga health workers hindi na uuwi ng bahay,” he said.
“Iha-house natin ‘yan sa mga hotel at mga accommodation na malapit sa hospital nila kasi tatamaan din ‘yung pamilya noong ating mga health workers. But in fairness, bilib kami magagaling ‘yung ating mga doktor dito,” he added.
The Cebu City government and other concerned agencies would meet to discuss how the lockdown will be implemented as well as how new quarantine passes will be issued among residents./PN
