City of Ilagan—Isabela Governor Rodolfo ‘Rodito’ T. Albano III, along with Isabela Mayor’s League President Arnold S. Bautista, recently presided over the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Isabela Chapter meeting at the Provincial Capitol Amphitheater.
They discussed updates on COVID-19 situation, vaccination rollout, and how to manage border control checkpoints.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Nelson Paguirigan presented the current COVID-19 situation in the province. Citing that as of September 13, 2021, 10:00 p.m., the province has 3,821 active cases with Angadanan, Santiago City, and San Guillermo recording the highest active cases.
Paguirigan said that the surge of cases started on December 2020, decreased in January and March 2021, surged again in April, decreased in May to July, then surged again in August and September. Total COVID-19 related deaths are 1,120 with the highest fatalities recorded in the cities of Santiago, Ilagan and Cauayan.
For the hospital occupancy rate is 94.02%, combining provincially managed hospitals, including Southern Isabela Medical Center (SIMC) and other government hospitals and private hospitals which are classified Critical or High Risk per DOH Hospital Use Classification.
Dr. Paguirigan further presented that through the One Isabela Command Center 1,682 vials of Remdesivir, 32 vials of Tocilizumab, 2,924 (200 mg) and 7,152 (400 mg) of Favipiravir was given for free by the provincial government.
The Command Center received and responded to 963 calls on COVID-19 referrals, updates on vaccination, travel requirements, contact tracing and request for COVID 19 patient transport vehicles.
Cabatuan Mayor Charlton Uy admitted that his municipality has exhausted their COVID-19 funds and asked how the Provincial Government could help.
“Kung mapapansin po ninyo Mayor, for the last 2 months ang probinsya ng Isabela ay nakapagbigay ng libreng 2,000 vials ng remdesivir sa lahat ng bayan. Pati Tocilizumab at iba pang gamot,” Dr. Paguirigan said.
“Kaya nga tayo gumawa ng Command Center para tugunan ng konti yung hinaharap nating problema. Lahat ay hirap, lalo na nung nagkaubusan ng Tocilizumab at hanggang ngayon, patuloy pa rin tayong nagoorder kung may available. Yung mga may pondo pa, kung gusto nyo mag-order, sabay-sabay tayo para mas makamura tayo,” Gov. Albano said.
The governor also announced to the mayors that the province has two model quad trucks, with cleaner and steamer.
“Yung mga wet market nyo, palengke nyo, ipa-schedule nyo kay Daryl Gascon para maglinis sa mga bayan nyo kung anong kailangang linisin,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Provincial Health Officer and Chairperson of Isabela Vaccination Program Operation Center, Dr. Arlene Lazaro, presented the latest update on Vaccine Rollout in the province.
A total of 218,037 Isabeleños received their first dose, while 151,728 received the second dose as of September 13, 2021.
Fully vaccinated Isabeleños is at 9.7% from the total projected population.
“Since naging Critical ang classification natin, we are allowed to vaccinate hanggang sa A5 natin. As for percentage of the vaccinated per priority group, A1 is at 99.8%, A2 at 69.8%, A3 at 71.5%, A4 at–40% and A5 at 2%. But then, we have to take into consideration na ang priority pa rin natin ay yung nasa A1, A2 at A3. Susundin pa rin natin yan,” Lazaro said.
Meanwhile, Isabela Police Colonel James M. Cipriano, Provincial Director of Isabela Police Provincial Office presented the six border control checkpoints in the province.
Cipriano cited that there are 22 PNP duty personnel manning in a daily basis at border checkpoints in Dibulo, Dinapigue; Simimbaan, Roxas; Bagong Sikat, San Mateo; Abut, Quezon; and NIA-MARIIS, Ambatali, Ramon.
He reported 2,929 were persons denied entry, while at least 18 Chinese nationals were apprehended and 6 Filipinos for violation of RA 11332 and Art. 175 of the Revised Penal Code because of their Fake RT-PCR Test Results.
Governor Albano disclosed, “Hindi tayo Diyos, Hindi natin kaya ito, maski anong gawin natin. Pasalamat tayo, may pera tayo konti, ang magagawa na lang natin i-mitigate natin ito. Hindi natin kayang pigilan ito. We have to live with this.”
“Ang kailangan na lang natin ay pag-aralan ngayon at saka yung mga rekomendasyon kung papaano natin imi-mitigate. And the way to mitigate it is to prepare, and kailangan natin ng pondo talaga at
