No funds for mass COVID-19 testing for evacuees in Isabela, says governor

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial government of Isabela will not conduct mass testing for COVID-19 on residents who have evacuated due to severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Ulysses because of lack of funds.

During the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, Isabela Governor Rodito Albano III said most of the evacuation centers in the province were also affected by the deluge during the onslaught of the typhoon.

“Hindi. Wala kaming pera para sa ganun kung mag-a-ano kami ng massive testing sa evacuation center. Karamihan ng evacuation centers namin nalubog din dahil nga sa laki ng ilog, laki ng tubig,” he said.

(No. We do not have enough funds to conduct mass testing in evacuation centers. Most of the evacuation centers were also submerged in floods because of the volume of water.)

“Ina-assess pa namin ito at nireredirect namin ‘yung mga resources towards upgrading nung mga rescue facilities and evacuation centers dito sa Isabela,” he added.

(We are still conducting assessment and we are redirecting resources towards upgrading rescue facilities and evacuation centers in the province.)

Nevertheless, Albano assured that health protocols will be better observed in evacuation centers given that the floodwater has already subsided.

He also said that the provincial government will focus on strengthening the immune system of evacuees as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

“Ngayong walang nang baha, masusunod na ‘yan (health protocols) nang husto, pero ang importante palakasin muna ang resistensya ng mga tao dito, kasi kung humina ‘yung resistensya nila, wala, yung COVID-19 kahit ano ‘yan tatama at tatama ‘yan sa kanila,” he said.

(Now that there is no flood anymore, health protocols will be better observed, but what is important is to strengthen the immune system of the people so that they won’t catch the virus.)

Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of 8 a.m. Monday showed that a total of 47,654 families or 164,428 individuals in the province have been affected by the typhoon.

Isabela has 67 evacuation centers, which shelter 1,974 families or 6,432 individuals, based on the latest data from NDRRMC.

Meanwhile, Albano also said that the effects of Typhoon Ulysses will serve as a “wake-up” call for the province to prepare for tropical cyclones regardless of the storm signals being raised by state meteorologists.

“Signal number 1 lang dito and yet ganun ang nangyari sa amin so wake-up call ito sa amin na kahit na anong signal ang ibigay ng Pagasa sa atin kailangan highest signal na and highest alert ang gagampanan namin sa lalawigan ng Isabela,” he said.

(Only signal number 1 was raised here and yet what happened to us was worse, so this will serve as a wake-up call to us that no matter what storm signal Pagasa will raise, we will prepare as if the highest signal or alert was raised in the province.)

JE