ILOILO CITY — As severe COVID-19 cases rise, the Iloilo City government is appealing to the national government for the much needed supply of liquid oxygen.
“We request for the urgent provision or augmentation of liquid oxygen supply to Iloilo City so that COVID patients needing it will be provided with such,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas in a Friday appeal letter.
The appeal letter dated September 17 stated that one of the biggest liquid oxygen suppliers in Western Visayas region had already disclosed days earlier the scarcity of the supply.
“If no supply for liquid oxygen will be provided in the next two days, there will be no resource available in the City of Iloilo,” emphasized Treñas.
The letter is addressed to Secretaries Carlito Galvez Jr. of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, Francisco Duque III of the Department of Health (DOH), and Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The mayor noted that Iloilo City has medical-grade oxygen demand with an average daily consumption of 657 or a maximum consumption of 973.
Treñas also emphasized that since Iloilo City is the regional capital, many severe COVID-19 cases and those other serious medical cases from other provinces of Panay and Guimaras Islands are being taken to tertiary hospitals in the city for medical treatment.