Palawan LGUs ready for strandees’ homecoming

The local government units in Palawan are almost ready to accommodate the returning individuals coming from outside the province who were left stranded due to the imposition of community quarantine.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Mary Ann Navarro said in an interview of Palawan Daily that the quarantine facilities of LGU’s all over Palawan are 75 percent ready and she is confident that it will be completed before the first week of June.

“Hindi pa po lahat kasi may iba na ongoing pa ang construction at renovation ng kanilang mga pasilidad kasi po ang standard ay isang pasyente, isang room at may CR po s’ya,” Dr. Navarro told Palawan Daily in an interview.

“Mga 75 percent ready pa lang pero nakakatuwa na may ibang mga munisipyo na ready na. Maihahabol naman s’ya lahat and I think, na-emphasize naman din po namin na kailangang i-ready na nila dahil by June, first week o second week, inaasahan natin na makakauwi na sila [LSI],” she added.

On the other hand, the city government is now prepared for the returning individuals from outside Palawan.

Dr. Dean Palanca, the Incident Commander of the city, said that they will put up a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) booths at the Puerto Princesa International Airport and Philippine Ports Authority to screen all incoming locally stranded individuals from outside the province.

“Lahat po ng LSI na papasok dito galing sa ibang probinsya ng Pilipinas, once na pumasok dito ay kailangang sumailalim talaga [RDT] lalo na ‘yung by ship o by plane. Once po na pumasok sila dito, magtatalaga kami ng isang booth sa airport at isang booth sa pier. ‘Yan po ay lalagyan po namin ng aming mga med techs, so sila po ang gagawa po ng rapid test po sa kanila. Lahat po ng papasok na ‘yan ay mandatory po na ira-rapid test po sila” Dr. Palanca said during the press briefing.

For the overseas Filipino workers, they will be quarantined in the designated facility of the city even they have completed a 14-day quarantine in Metro Manila and tested negative.

Palanca reiterated that this is in compliance with the local guidelines and to protect their families and the residents of the city.

“Kahit na na-quarantine na po sila sa lugar po doon, kahit may RT-PCR po sila, they will be submitted for another 14-day quarantine here in Puerto Princesa,” Palanca added.