The Iloilo City Government has formed a task force to oversee the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 33-2020 organizing the Iloilo City 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Task Force.

The task force is mandated to carry out “disease prevention and control measures against the 2019-nCoV and other similar strains.”

Treñas cited Section 16 of the Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 which states that “every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”

“To protect the city from the introduction and spread of the 2019 nCoV, there is a need for the city government to strictly implement intensified information education program, additional quarantine, heightened surveillance and other disease prevention and control measures,” a part of the EO read.

Dr. Roland Jay D. Fortuna, medical officer of the City Health Office, is designated to lead and serve as focal person of the task force with Dr. Odeta Villaruel as co-lead. 

Members of the task force include all district nurses of the city.

Specifically, the task force is assigned to perform the following:
-Consult national and other health offices on the guidelines and protocol relative to safety measures, prevention and control of the coronavirus in the city.
-Tap the local media, conduct dialogues and disseminate information materials about the 2019 nCoV.
-Coordinate with the barangay officials in mobilizing their Barangay Healtg Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) to help manage coronavirus suspects and their contacts.
-Supervise and provide logistical assistance to the BHERTs and other local health personnel in carrying out their tasks.
-In coordination with health and police authorities, cause the referral and transport of a coronavirus suspect to the DOH-designated coronavirus-referral center or hospital.

Treñas also issued an EO ordering the implementation of strict quarantine procedures, surveillance and other disease prevention and control measures to ensure maximum security and protect the city from nCoV.

As stated in the EO, the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) of the Department of Health shall conduct of quarantine inspection/examination, surveillance and clearance of all foreign vessels calling on ports in Iloilo City regardless of clearance in other ports.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs (BoC), BoQ and the City Health Office shall, pursuant to RA 9271 and RA 11332, require the accomplishment of the Health Declaration Checklist by passengers and crew aboard aircrafts from foreign and other domestic airports and vessels both foreign and other domestic ports arriving in the city.

There must be barangay monitoring and reporting of notifiable disease and health events of public health concern, the city mayor added.

With this, the CHO, pursuant to RA 11332 and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-018, shall collaborate with barangay officials to organize and mobilize their BHERTs.

BHERTs shall be responsible for monitoring and recording returning residents and transients with history of travel from affected countries positive for 2019 nCov and similar strains and/or exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, and/or colds, and to report to the CHO, if any.

Tourism establishments, such as, but not limited to hotels, pension houses, motels, resort dwellings and transient accommodations pursuant to RA 11332 shall do the same as ordered to the BHERTs. 

“The CHO shall take charge of advising and orienting the tourism establishment owners on the implementation…,” the EO further read.IMT