RIATF: Oro needs 3 more isolation centers as cases continue to rise

CITY government of Cagayan de Oro asked to build more isolation facilities to accommodate the increasing cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), said in a press statement today.

Following the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Covid-19 passed a Resolution No. 119, requesting the city government to add three more isolation facilities, foreseeing that the confirmed cases will continue to increase.

“Due to the continued increase in Covid-19 confirmed cases, the city has already reached the critical level on the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities,” the resolution said.

It said the proposed three isolation facilities worth P879.2 million shall start its construction upon approval and availability of funds.

"Na'y proposal ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to its Central Office nga pagtukod ug tulo ka isolation facilities," said regional interior and local department assistant director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga.

The Department of Health (DOH) regional office reported that the city still lacks isolation facilities, according to Sunga during the Normin Covid-19 Response Task Force press conference, earlier today (Oct. 2).

Among the ongoing isolation facility constructions in the city include the 20-bed capacity located at mother Theresa Compound, Upper Puerto, Balubal amounting to P11.7 million.The target completion of the facility is on October 23. 

The other ongoing facility construction is the 20-bed capacity located in Macasandig with a P11.7 million budget.  

The additional isolation facilities proposed by the DPWH-10 included 50 units quarantine facilities at Maitum, Upper Puerto, with 1,000 bed capacity worth P785 million.

Also 4 units isolation facility at Stock Farm Lot, Placer - Sabarillo Resettlement, Barangay Balubal with 80 bed capacity worth P62.8 million.

And 2 units at Barangay Macasandig with 40 bed capacity worth P31.4 million.

DPWH also plans to build isolation facilities at Barangay Lunotan in Gingoog City with 37-bed capacity, Talairon, Oroquieta City, and Misamis Occidental with 90-bed capacity.  

Meanwhile DOH-10 regional director Adriano Suba-an is now looking for ways to strengthen the capacity of the OWWA Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in Alubijid town since it was a temporary treatment and monitoring facility.

Subaan said his office are now coordinating with the Misamis Oriental government, DPWH, and the Bureau of Fire Protection to develop the area as it can handle 50 patients.  

DOH will still sit with the Misamis Oriental government to determine if the facility will handle LSI or ROF positive cases, mild or asymptomatic patients, healthcare workers’ facility or a step down facility for the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Suba-an said. 

With the increasing number of local transmission, Suba-an urged the local officials to learn from other areas like Cebu where the latter really pushed it to the barangay level.  

"The barangays must be empowered and provided with resources," Subaan said.

He said they should have active barangay health emergency response teams and boost their contact tracing system. 

"They should be guided to make everyone responsible and accountable in this time of health crisis," Suba-an said. 

As of October, the region has recorded a total of 2,907 confirmed cases of COVID-19 of which 1,643 have recovered, 78 have expired, and 1,186 are recovering. (Recthie Tolinero/PIA10)