Lockdown looms at BFP regional office in Iloilo due to COVID-19 infection
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY—There is going to be a one-week lockdown at the Western Visayas regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in this city after one of its personnel tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“It will be in lockdown for five to seven days,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas in a Monday press conference.
This came after reports reached Treñas that the BFP personnel, who tested positive was able to go around Iloilo City while the test result for the COVID-19 specimen was still pending.
The Department of Health (DOH) released the test result for the BFP female personnel, who previously traveled in Cebu, in its June 14 bulletin.
Treñas also expressed dismay over BFP officials when they failed to inform city officials, and did not immediately isolate the female personnel who had COVID-19.
The BFP personnel only surfaced late Sunday night, and was transferred to a hospital when Treñas verbally complained to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the government agency overseeing the BFP.
Due to this alleged breach in protocol, Treñas is going to file a formal complaint before the Western Visayas regional task force against COVID-19.
Meanwhile, both the BFP regional office and the BFP-Iloilo City station have been temporarily closed Monday for disinfection
