ILOILO City – The provincial government of Guimaras answered the open letter of a sender who questioned the measures being enforced under an Executive Order (EO).
“We appreciate you posting an open letter to the province. Regrettably, your questions are based on wrong assumptions,” read the opening lines of the official response dated Sept. 4.
* Travel
“Two times a week ang tabok? Sin-o nga employer maging happy sa empleyado kag mag hatag buo nga sweldo sa two times a week nga duty,” the sender asked on social media.
The provincial government replied: “Wala ginadumilian sang EO No. 63 ang pagtabuk-tabuk sa Guimaras masobra duha ka beses sa isa ka semana. Klaro ang gina siling sang directive nga kon magsobra na sa duha ka beses ang pakadto pakari sa Guimaras, igapaidalum ikaw sa Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT).”
“While it is true that the RDT is not the gold standard in detecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this is an ‘adjunct screening too’ and an additional layer to the procedures being implemented at the moment,” it added.
The provincial government, however, admitted RDT is not required so far since there are no testing centers yet at the Ro-Ro, Jordan and Buenavista wharves and at the capitol.
* Overnight stay
“Pwede ka tulog overnight? Paano ang mga wala tululugan sa syudad kag may mga kabataan nga need pulian kada hapon or gab-i,” the sender asked.
“Wala ang EO naga mandu nga matulog overnight ang bisan sin-o kon sa diin man. Ang directive nagasiling nga kon ikaw ang maga-tinir sa gwa sang Guimaras sa sulod sang masobra duha ka adlaw, igapaidalum ikaw sa RDT,” the provincial government replied.
* RDT
“Indi na amo ka dali magpa-test subong (and) indi dayun ma-release ang result. Paanu nalang ang mga naga kita minimum wage? Husto lang ipa-RDT ang income,” the sender said.
The provincial government answered: ” Ang ‘turn-around time’ sang RDT nga naga detect sang anti-bodies amo ang mas o menos 15 minutes lang. Basi nasal-an mo nga RT-PCR (reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction) test ang RDT.”
“Ang gobyerno probinsyal ang ‘MAGA ALOKAR’ sang LIBRE nga tests para sa mga naga-ubra sa gobyerno, frontliners, pigado, kag indi makasarang mag-abaga (nga naga gwa-sulod sa Guimaras) sang bili sang RDT sa bulig sang aton Provincial Social Welfare Development Office,” it added.
“We appeal for your consideration and full support on the policies being implemented,” the provincial government concluded.
Based on the Sept. 5 bulletin of the island province, Guimaras has 96 confirmed COVID-19 cases – 12 of which were active./PN
