Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sunday to require highly urbanized cities to set up their own quarantine facilities amid the increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.
The vice chairperson of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety pressed the need for local governments units (LGUs), especially those in Metro Manila, to establish their COVID-19 facilities.
"If you are asking me, oobligahin ba ang LGUs na gumawa ng (if the LGUs should be obliged to set up their) quarantine facilities, my answer is yes. 'Yung mga (those) second, third, fourth, and fifth-class municipalities, 'yung (the) national government is capable of helping them," Siao said in an interview over DZBB.
He said the LGUs in highly urbanized cities have the capability and have funds to implement such initiative.
"The DILG should obligate these highly urbanized cities to put up facilities," Siao said.
"You cannot let this problem go out of hand, kelangan natin icontrol (we need to control this) instead na nasa Metro Manila ang ground zero (that the Metro Manila is the only area on ground zero) baka mapunta sa buong Pilipinas (the whole Philippines will be affected). The provinces do not have the facilities or equipment to take care of these serious COVID cases)," the House leader explained.
To prove his point, Siao cited that in his district, they have "limited" medical equipment and facilities to address the COVID-19 cases, particularly intubators.
He also took the LGUs to seriously implement the health protocols that were put in place as far the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) are concerned to prevent the local transmission of the coronavirus disease.
"Just follow the protocol, wag natin gawing shortcut itong bagay na ito (let us not create a shortcut on this matter). A lot of LGUs sometimes just disregard this," he said.
To address local transmission, he said the government should shoulder and conduct the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests to all LSIs before they return to their respective home provinces.
He had earlier proposed that only negative results on confirmatory PCR diagnostic tests shall be honored as a requisite for returning home.
"The PCR tests lessen the risk rather than going through the rapid testing, wala naman assurance ang rapid testing (there is no assurance with the rapid testing), at least (in) PCR swab test confirmed talaga (the result is really confirmed)," Siao said.
"Better to wait for 24 hours to three days rather than going home at ma-ririsk mo 'yung munisipyo ninyo, 'yung city ninyo, lalo na ang pamilya mo (and risk your municipality, city, especially your family)," he explained.
Siao said once the LSIs get their PCR test certification, they should be allowed to go straight to their families as long as they follow the health protocols while traveling.
He said the presentation of the PCR test certificate should be "sufficient enough" for those who intend to return back to their provinces, who are currently required to secure travel pass from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"Ang sa akin, basta as long as may PCR test results ka na, certified ka na dun puwede na (For me, as long as you have PCR test results, you are already certified, it would suffice) ," he said.