As part of preparations for the reopening of the Iloilo International Airport to direct overseas flights, the provincial government held a consultation meeting.
Led by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., the meeting was attended by members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) on COVID-19 and representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and airline companies.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray of the Department of Health (DOH-6) discussed the agency’s policies mandating and directing the plan of action for monkeypox case prevention, detection, surveillance, and management.
As of Aug. 22, the country has four cases of monkeypox, a viral disease that spreads through skin-to-skin.
On the other hand, Dr. D’wanie Conlu of the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) 6 explained the current protocols being implemented by the Bureau on airports and seaports in the country accommodating international flights and voyages.
According to her, every individual arriving in the country is required register with the One Health Pass (OHP) and complete an electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC).
Arriving passengers who may develop symptoms and be traced from countries with monkeypox cases will immediately be isolated and will undergo quarantine.
Meanwhile, Defensor is pushing for the conduct of a simulation exercise (SIMEX) to “determine the proper mechanism based on the existing guidelines to be utilized by the BoQ and the Provincial Health Office team for the screening of international arrivals for probable COVID-19 and monkeypox cases and those unvaccinated and partially vaccinated foreigners.”
The governor also suggested adding more screening teams in the airport and the interval of flight schedules among airline companies to prevent congestion, especially with the physical examination of individuals for monkeypox symptoms.
International flights at the airport in the town of Cabatuan have been suspended since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airport used to cater to direct flights to and from Hong Kong (Mondays, Fridays) and Singapore (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays).IMT
