LAOAG CITY, Dec. 15 (PIA) – The national government has tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to help the provincial government of Ilocos Norte in building more isolation facilities here for individuals who are needed to be quarantined.
This was announced by Secretary Vicencio Dizon, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer, during his visit here on December 11 with members of the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team amid the spike in COVID cases in the province.
“Nakausap namin sina Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc at Senator Imee Marcos, kapag may na-identify na site na gustong gawing isolation facility, gagawin po iyan ng DPWH,” Dizon said in an interview.
He said as part of the COVID-19 strategy dubbed “Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate” (PDITR) which is the central theme of the National Action Plan, those who are affected by the virus must be isolated.
“For Ilocos Norte, they have to identify a site. Whether it is a piece of land or a facility, a school…DPWH Secretary Mark Villar will build the facility for you at no expense,” he added.
Moreover, he said that they would help the local government to request temporarily closed hotels and resorts to be designated as isolation facilities in the meantime.
“Tutulong din po tayo na magkumbinsi sa ating mga hotel at resort na hindi nagagamit pa para kung sakali dumami ang kaso ulit, magagamit natin iyon nang mabilisan para sa ating ‘Oplan Kalinga’,” Dizon shared.
The Oplan Kalinga is a program of the national government that aims to accommodate tested positive patients for COVID-19 as well as vulnerable household members to be isolated in quarantine facilities. (Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco/PIA Ilocos Norte)
