Baguio eyes centralized triage, isolation centers

BAGUIO CITY — As new infections rose to 17 at the start of this week, the Baguio government outlined plans to centralize triage and expand the city’s isolation system given the possibility that the duration of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic could be longer.

A P12 million standby fund from the Department of Public Works and Highways could be used to develop a centralized triage facility, possibly at the Baguio Convention Center, City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña informed the City Council during its July 20 session.

Currently, the city has three major triage facilities that serve exiting or returning residents and visitors with essential business in Baguio. But these were put up in areas that may be needed back soon such as a gymnasium near a Catholic high school for girls which would need to be disinfected for the school opening.

Dela Peña said putting up a single triage center would also reduce city expenses and the need for a huge manpower. The current triage system is aided by government health-workers loaned out from various agencies and institutions.

Dela Peña acknowledged that out of the major systems set in place to reduce or eliminate transmissions, Baguio still has insufficient isolation areas in the neighborhoods.

He said the city government will increase the isolation rooms at the Sto. Niño Hospital, an underutilized private facility which has been upgraded by the Baguio government as a COVID-19 treatment and quarantine building.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong had also suggested developing quarantine areas in the city’s villages, said Councilor Michael Lawana, chair of the council’s committee on barangay affairs.

He told the council that the mayor sent him and City Health Service Officer Rowena Galpo the proposal in a text message on Monday, but village leaders will require funds to add new enclosures at barangay halls for isolation rooms.

Dela Peña said Baguio engineers have developed a prototype for triage and isolation rooms using pre-fabricated PBC (Polybutylene carbonate) materials which barangays can use.

RIGHT TO BIKE. The city began setting up bicycle stands at Burnham Park in preparation for lanes to be developed using unspent funds meant for the lockdown. PHOTO BY EV ESPIRITU

The city administrator attended the council session to discuss unspent funds meant for the lockdown, such as a P20-million jeepney subsidy allocation, which Magalong intends to use for various projects.

Some councilors like lawyer Betty Lourdes Tabanda preferred keeping the lockdown funds in place should Baguio suffer a “second wave” of infections.

But Baguio has been able to keep most of its COVID-19 budget intact having benefited from donations when it built a public health system, said dela Peña.

He said the donations include five reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines, test kits that will last for three months, and the materials and manpower used for triage areas.

The subsidy for public utility jeepney drivers and operators, who served households during the Luzon lockdown, was discontinued when travel restrictions eased under a general community quarantine in June, the city administrator said.

Only P1.8 million were spent for the PUJ drivers.

Dela Peña said P4.3 million of the idle funds could be tapped instead to develop bicycle lanes as Baguio thrives to encourage alternative transportation to be used by people who returned to work in June.

EDV