Stricter protocols are being imposed in the bunkhouses compound of Benguet Mining Corporation in Barangay Virac, Itogon, Benguet after more than a hundred individuals mostly miners tested positive for COVID-19.
“So isang floor ang positive at isang floor sa negative. Ang importante, mapaghiwalay upang masunod ang health protocol, ma-quarantine sila ng 14 days (One floor for those tested positive and one floor for those tested negative. It is necessary to separate them to observe protocols and quarantine them for 14 days),” Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas explained.
“Sana po wala na sanang madadagdag… Nakita natin na selyado lahat ‘yung mga bunkhouses na walang nang lumalabas (We are hoping that no more case will be added… The bunkhouses have been sealed so no one can go out),” Virac, Itogon Barangay Capt. Noel Bilibli stated.
The local government of Itogon and the provincial government will provide food to those who tested positive and those in lockdown. The Kiangan Village was also placed under lockdown amid the incident.
Mass testing will be conducted on Friday for the remaining more than 1,500 miners and their families. Isolation facilities are now being prepared in case they turn out positive for the virus.
“During our inspection nakita namin na mayroon parang nursery nila roon na pwedeng i-convert into isolation facility, which would be sufficient (We found out in our inspection that they have something like a nursery which can be converted into an isolation facility which would be sufficient),” Chairperson Albert Mogol of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for the Cordillera Administrative Region (RDRRRMC-CAR) stated.
In case the facility reaches full capacity, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Education (DepEd) will be tapped for the utilization of classrooms. – Report from Breves Bulsao/PTV Cordillera
