Ilocos Sur Keeps On Fight Sans Local IATF

April 21, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (April 21, 2020) – Ilocos Sur is keeping up the fight against the spread of COVID19 sans the provincial IATF which virtually crumbled after Gov. Ryan Singson quit his post over apparent clash between nationally-mandated IATF rules followed by policemen refusing distressed Ilocos Sur residents to pass at the province’s gateway despite a local IATF guidelines

After shutting down the IATF, Singson created the Ilocos Sur Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Action Center to continue responding to the needs to contain the illness.

The new operations post located in the provincial capitol will address all concerns regarding COVID-19 including timely updates and local government’s responses to the health crisis.

“Napinpintas daytoy a set-up, awan kontrabida isunga lokal amin daytoy ta ammok a dagitoy adda ditoy abay ko ken dagiti adda ti uneg ti kapitoly ket sitayo lang ti sursurutenda. Ket aramidentayo dagiti guidelines a pagsayaatan ti probinsiatayo without dagidiay saan a sumursurot ti bilin ti gobierno lokal,” he said. (This set up is better, there are no oppositions, I am sure that every member will follow my order. We will create guidelines for the good of the province without those who do not want to support the local government.)

Singson quit as chairman of the provincial IATF on April 15, reiterating that the local IATF made the guidelines to allow displaced workers and OFWs, returning patients and stranded students go home to Ilocos Sur. Though the Ilocos Sur PNP leadership signed the local guidelines, policemen at the province’s boundary with La Union (Tagudin town checkpoint) did not honor the instruction, citing advice from their superiors to follow the national IATF orders.

The province of Ilocos Sur is not against the national government, the governor explained, adding, what happened was, “there are national agencies assigned in the area that are not helping the provincial government”.

He lamented how national agencies having their representatives in the local IATF attending meetings though could not advice on what to do and make decisions.

The governor also lambasted Ilocos Sur police Acting Provincial Director Col. Ismael Yu, who was present when the local IATF guidelines was charted for the distressed residents, “for not providing the proper information”.

Yu has not answered back at the accusation.

Singson reiterated that Yu was at the meeting and should have told him he could not speak in behalf of the police so none were sacrificed.

Residents who traveled to Ilocos Sur after the release of April 13 guidelines stayed overnight, and another half day at the Tagudin checkpoint before being allowed to go home.

Gov. Singson though said they will continues to ensure the safety of frontline workers. According to him, they strictly monitor the inventory of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and “don’t wait to reach a critical number before ordering.”

He also assured that hospitals are provided with the necessary PPEs. Health officials and heads of frontline offices were ordered to regularly report their needs so the province can immediately place its purchase orders.

Ilocos Sur believed it had been swift in implementing the ECQ, with selected areas placed under total lockdown after identification of probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Barangay San Vicente in Magsingal town was placed under extreme ECQ

on March 2 after a “highly probable” COVID-19 patient was determined. Later, the test turned out negative.

Also on March 21, Barangay Magsaysay in Tagudin was also placed under extreme ECQ after one of its residents tested positive, the lone positive case in Ilocos Sur to date.

Three weeks ago, Ilocos Sur also opened its four newly-constructed isolation intensive care units (ICU) for COVID-19 patients. The facility, the first in the region initiated by a province, is located at Ilocos Sur District Hospital (ISDH) in Narvacan.

Ilocos Sur has become COVID-free after its lone confirmed case has recovered.

Artemio Dumlao