LOCAL and foreign tourists who wish to visit the province of Camiguin next year will now be easily tested following officials in the province are planning to put up two reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing centers.
Camiguin officials said the measure aims to strengthen its response to the continuing threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to protect the people in the province.
"Camiguin is one of the top tourist destinations not only in the country but also outside, hence it is expected that more tourists will come to this province next year even during this Covid-19 pandemic, according to Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.
To further strengthen the province’s initiatives to mitigate the spread of the disease, Romualdo said testing machines are needed by December 2020 or January 2021.
“Kung maablihan na nato ni, gusto nako sigurodahon nga bantayan gyud nato nga dili magka-local transmission or localized lockdown,” Romualdo said during Talakayan sa PIA, October 15.
Romualdo insists on opting for two RT-PCRs as it is the standard in COVID-19 testing and detection despite its estimated cost of P35 to P40 million, and added that they have talked with the National Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-EID)’s Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr for support.
He added that they would need two machines so when one fails to operate, there is still another unit that can be used.
“We already have med technicians and doctors for training, we have a location and a building prepared," said Romualdo adding that it's already marked up and it is only a matter of the releasing of funds.
Despite financial constraints, Romualdo stressed the importance of having two RT-PCR testing machines in the island province for public health safety not only for the Caminguinons but also incoming tourists. (Recthie Tolinero/VPSB/PIA10)
