ILOILO – The city government will continue to subject all returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
The unnumbered order of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (Operational Guidelines on the Management of ROFs) will no longer be implemented, according to Regional Task Force Against COVID-19 spokesperson Maria Aletha Nogra.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city government has the same position as the Iloilo provincial government in so far as repatriated Ilonggos are concerned – quarantining and testing them are a must.
“We will be wasting all our hard work to contain the spread of COVID-19 if we allow ROFs to return home without first quarantining and testing them,” he stressed.
The National Task Force Against COVID-19’s Operational Guidelines on the Management of ROFs stated (General Policy 6.16) that “all ROFs in good health and with testing documents showing negative RT-PCR result for COVID-19 shall not be subjected to another 14-day quarantine by the receiving local government units.”
But Nogra recently announced that the Regional Task Force Against COVID-19wouldfollowthe latest Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 67 (B.3) stating that all returning residents, suspect or probable cases of COVID-19 must undergo facility-based quarantine or isolation.
The National Task Force’s order scrapping the quarantine was dated Aug. 19 yet while the IATF resolution was released only recently, said Nogra.
The IATF is the policymaking-body on the national government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and its Resolution No. 67 is the basis of the operations and efforts against COVID-19, she stressed.
Iloilo province’s mayors last week firmed up their stand to enforce an 14-day quarantine on ROFs.
“Ang safety sang tanan ang gina-push sang majority sang mga mayors,” said San Enrique town’s Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo chapter.
She disclosed to Panay News the consensus of mayors during Thursday’s virtual meeting initiated by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Swabbing, according to Fernandez, may no longer be mandatory for ROFs showing no symptoms of COVID-19 as long as they will isolate at the quarantine facilities of their local government units (LGUs) for two weeks.
“Gina-propose nga indi na lang pag-swab ang mga ROFs kon indi symptomatic tapos e-release after sang 14-day quarantine provided wala sila sang signs and symptoms,” explained Fernandez.
The swabbing, she said, will be done only when an ROF has manifested symptoms of COVID-19.
The Aug. 19 National Task Force Against COVID-19’s Operational Guidelines on the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos had the following salient features:
* All receiving LGUs shall not deny the entry of ROFs with complete requirements, provided that prior coordination was made through the NTF and/or the Regional Task Forces (RTFs), and other concerned agencies as deemed necessary.
* All ROFs in good health with test documents showing negative RT-PCR result for COVID-19 shall not be subjected to another 14-day quarantine by the receiving LGUs.
The guidelines also listed things/moves that LGUs must do upon the ROFs’ arrival. These are the following:
* The concerned RTF/LGUs shall facilitate the transportation of arriving ROFs to their respective home provinces.
* Upon arrival of ROFs to their final destination, the Local COVID Task Force shall receive the ROFs and assist in their transportation to their respective homes.
* The ROFs shall no longer be subjected to Local Health Protocols by receiving LGUs.
* The ROFs shall notify their respective LGUs if they manifest signs and symptoms of COVID-19./PN
