By Alexandria San Juan
The second quarantine center in the Bicol Region was put up by the provincial government of Camarines Sur at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA). This is to temporarily shelter persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs) of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 7, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said that CBSUA quarantine facility will be operated by the local government of Pasacao, Camarines Norte. The initiative was approved during a teleconference meeting supervised by De Vera last April 1 with officials of the Commission, the university, and the concerned local government unit (LGU).
CBSUA President Alberto Naperi said the institution is willing to extend its support to the provincial government, especially during this time of crisis. "Living its core principle of CARE, CBSUA opens its facilities as community isolation units for the LGU of Pasacao to fight COVID-19 and answer the call of our national government to heal as one through 'Bayanihan' spirit," Naperi added.
For her part, Pasacao acting Mayor Marilyn Sotto conveyed her appreciation to the Commission for "not closing its doors to communities who are in need of urgent aid at a time of crisis." Following this move, De Vera said the Commission hopes more state universities and colleges across the country will collaborate with the LGUs to use its facilities as quarantine centers.
Last week, Sorsogon provincial government through Governor Chiz Escudero and De Vera established the first quarantine center in the region at the Sorsogon State College. The Commission earlier issued guidelines to LGUs planning to use state universities and colleges as quarantine centers after the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) adopted a policy directing LGUs to sign an agreement with the Commission to ensure "consistency and accountability in the operation of these facilities."