MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Saturday said he plans to file a bill seeking to establish more quarantine facilities in the country to prepare for possible infectious diseases in the future.
“I’m planning to file a bill na maglalagay tayo ng separate quarantine facilities. Paghahanda ito hindi lang sa posibleng pagkalat ng [COVID-19]. Kung saka-sakaling meron pang dumating ay handa na po tayo at hindi na po tayo magtuturuan sa ibang lugar,” Go said in a statement.
(I am planning to file a bill which aims to put up separate quarantine facilities. This will prepare not only for the COVID-19 or coronavirus disease. If a new disease comes in, we will be prepared and we will not point fingers again.)
“At para magkaroon na rin po ng peace of mind ang bawat isang mamamayan natin sa kanya-kanyang lugar [So that out residents in other countries will have a peace of mind.],” he added.
Currently, repatriated Filipinos from Wuhan City in China’s Hubei province – the epicenter of the COVID-19 disease outbreak – are now quarantined at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
Aside from this, Go, Chair of the senate committee on health, assured the public that the Department of Health is “doing its best to prevent the coronavirus disease.”
“Ginagawa naman ang lahat ng ating health officials. Sa ngayon, hindi locals ang tinamaan kundi tatlong foreign nationals. Hopefully po, walang locals na mahawa,” he said.
(Our health officials are doing everything. For now, three foreigners were infected by the disease not Filipinos. Hopefully, no Filipinos would be infected.)
Go was referring to the three confirmed COVID-19 cases which involved three Chinese nationals. One has already died due to severe pneumonia caused COVID-19 disease.
Go also asked the public to keep clam and help the government in preventing the spread of the virus.
“Sundin lang po ‘yung tama, ‘yung mga payo ng ating mga health authorities. Magtulungan na lang po tayo. Huwag na tayong magsisihan,” Go said.
(Let us follow the right orders, those of which were given by our health authorities. Let us help each other and not blame anyone.)
”Sa ngayon, there is always a possibility (ng local transmission). Hindi naman maiiwasan na maaaring kumalat. Let us cross our fingers na hindi kumalat. Ang importante ay maging handa tayo,” he added.
(For now, there is a possibility of local transmission of the disease. But there is still a chance that the virus will spread. Let us cross our fingers that it will not spread.)
Go also reiterated the public to follow advisories issued by health authorities to end the spread of any virus.
“Sundin natin ang payo nila. Maghugas tayo ng kamay. Pa-check up tayo agad kung may nararamdaman tayo [Let us follow their guidelines. Let us start washing our hands. Let us have ourselves checked if we fill any symptoms.],” he said.
Go assured that he will monitor the latest events concerning the COVID-19 which has killed 1,523 people and infected 66,492 people in mainland China.
“Ako, bilang legislator at chairman ng Committee on Health, nakatutok ako rito na dapat ginagampanan ng ating health officials ang kanilang trabaho para sugpuin ang pagkalat nito,” he said.
(As a legislator and chairman of the committee on health, I am focusing on this issue and I am also monitoring if our health officials are doing their job to prevent the spread of this disease.)