By Warren Elijah Valdez SULTAN KUDARAT - The province of Davao Oriental will be opening its doors, allowing all public and private transportation, including individuals who wish to enter the province starting June 1. Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang
(Davao Oriental PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang and the local chief executives of the province agreed to set up necessary policies and health measures for the opening of its provincial borders. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who chairs the Regional Task Force for COVID-19 in Davao region, has previously convened the local executives in the region and has appealed to them to ease their restrictions on their borders for travelling individuals into the region as it is already placed under general community quarantine (GCQ). The previously released Omnibus Guidelines issued by the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) last May 22, also mandates the opening of borders of all GCQ areas. Gov. Dayanghirang said that they “need to follow what is mandated under the law.” “We will not impede the movement of people coming in and out of our province,” he added, as he also pointed out that they have to set screening protocols in order for them to protect their people. He noted that it is necessary for the province to plan its measures as it cannot afford to make disorganized preparations given the expected large number of people who will be coming into the province once it starts opening its borders. On Wednesday, Dayanghirang issued Executive Order No. 25, Series of 2020 prescribing the “strengthened health screening measures in all provincial border entry points and terminals in the province of Davao Oriental.” The executive order requires all individuals coming into the province to fill-up an “embarkation form” which is downloadable online and will also be available in all border entry points , terminals, and LGU screening points. The order also mandates local government units of the province to establish their respective mobile screening or testing booths at their inland terminals and LGU entry points. “With the influx of returning residents and passengers availing of both public and private transportation, it is imperative to ensure that minimum health standards are observed , health screening protocols are implemented for returning residents, and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” the order said. Meanwhile, Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 action officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo said that this is one of the measures the province has to implement to ensure that there is a “slim chance” for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) suspected cases to come in undetected. “All our policies involve screening at the border and terminals. With this strategy, if there are COVID suspect, we can isolate them right away – whether (for) home quarantine or isolation at the barangay isolation units or community quarantine centers. Then, we will test them,” he added. The province will utilize the previously procured 11,000 sets of test kits. He underscored the possibility of having a positive case given the expected influx of people coming into the province once it opens its borders. “That’s why, before someone tests positive, we will do the necessary steps to really contain people. That’s why everybody who comes in should be tracked. By containing them, we will decrease the chance of local transmission,” Dr. Bersaldo added.