By HENRY EMPEÑO | 

The Zambales provincial government has put in place a six-point action plan that emphasized preparedness and capability-building rather than isolation to combat the spread of the new coronavirus disease (Covid19).

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. ordered what he called an intensified strategy of emergency response following confirmation by the Department of Health of two positive cases of Covid-19 infection here late last week.

“We will be prepared. That is the most sensible direction we have to take in this situation. This is going to be a long battle and we are arming ourselves for it,” Ebdane said in a statement on Sunday.

The governor said he met with the provincial inter-agency task force the other day and gave orders to implement the six-point strategy to manage the current crisis.

Under Ebdane’s directives, the provincial government will establish quarantine facilities at the two provincial borders—Sta. Cruz town in the north, and Subic in the south, where all new arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days. This is in anticipation of more Zambaleños coming back to their hometowns to weather the pandemic.

He said he has received “hundreds” of requests from residents wanting to return, most are students and workers in Manila who are running out of money to last the expected month-long quarantine.

Ebdane also gave an order to extend the quarantine of persons under monitoring (PUMs) in the province from 14 days to 20-30 days and to set up quarantine facilities in each municipality for this purpose.

He said the provincial government will also strengthen checkpoint capability at the borders to supply members of the task force there with complete personal protection equipment (PPEs) and supplies, and enable the disinfection of both incoming and outgoing vehicles and cargo.

Another measure that Ebdane ordered is the stocking of sufficient supplies of food, medicine, and other essentials in the province. He said that an inventory of staples showed the province can support residents for up to three months under the current condition.

“Funds have been allotted for importations of other needs, but home or backyard food production program will nevertheless be initiated through the barangays, and price monitoring and control will also be implemented stringently,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ebdane also ordered a census of all private medical professionals to come up with a list of “reservists” in the event that Covid-19 cases increased and the current medical staff fell short.

He also designated the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in Iba as exclusive for the treatment of Covid-19 positives and PUIs. All other regular and non-Covid cases will be moved to the two district hospitals in the province or to any hospital chosen by the patients.

“We will also be anticipating problems stemming from the above proposed solutions and we must be quick to determine and implement adjustments,” the governor added.

Ebdane said that just last week, nine residents of Masinloc were intercepted in Botolan town after walking the length of the Capas-Botolan road from Tarlac.

“While we have encouraged everyone that it would be safer to stay put in their current location, we could not really turn them away if they arrive,” the governor said. Thus measures to prevent further local transmission must be in place at once, he added.

At the same time, Ebdane encouraged his constituents to deal with the Covid-19 emergency as a community, stressing that the more affluent sectors should provide others with food and other necessities, as well as funds to “adopt” poor communities.

“We need to be calm, caring and cooperative,” Ebdane said. “Sama-sama tayo sa laban at kakayanin natin ito.”

 

TOP PHOTO: Gov. Ebdane explains new strategies in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic