Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is dissatisfied with the Department of Health’s (DOH) efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-9).
“Kulang ang hulag sang DOH. They should provide a sense of stability and security,” Treñas said in a press conference on Tuesday, March 10.
According to the mayor, the country’s health department has not enough testing kits for persons suspected of being infected with COVID-19.
“I am speaking to the DOH, I think it’s your responsibility to provide test kits to all the different regions, I’m not just talking about Western Visayas,” Treñas said.
“Kami ya sa LGU (local government unit) obrahon man namon amon responsibilidad and kamo sa DOH, inyo na ya responsibilidad to provide us with testing kits. And we demand that as a matter of right,” he added.
The DOH has only 2,000 available COVID-19 testing kits and it is expected to receive 4,500 more from the World Health Organization this month.
“How can we feel secure and safe? If they cannot provide, what will happen to us? People will walk around the country, indi sila matestingan,” Treñas said.
“May 100 plus million ang populasyon subong tapos ang testing kits 2000 lang,” he lamented
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of COVID-19 test kits developed by University of the Philippines (UP) scientists.
Treñas was also dismayed over the lack of testing centers in Iloilo and in the whole Western Visayas region for potential cases of COVID-19.
The city government is pushing for the accreditation of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district to serve as the city’s testing center.
“Kon may ara kita suspected cases, kinahanglan pa dal-on sa Manila ukon Cebu ang ila specimens sa Manila ukon sa Cebu for confirmatory testing,” Treñas said.IMT
