City eyes more Covid patient transport

At least 10 of the city’s 128 barangays have committed and even re-committed their willingness to provide patient transport vehicles (PTVs) for their constituents who are infected by the coronavirus 2019 disease (covid-19) according to City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Antonette Anaban.

She disclosed this in her update report on the Summer Capital’s Contingency Plan Against the Omicron variant during  the virtual management committee meeting of local officials, January 11, led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

Anaban said these are Trancoville, Pacdal,Gibraltar, Burnham-Legarda, East Modernsite, Irisan, Loakan Proper, Pinsao Proper, San Luis, and Lualhati barangays.

She is asking the other barangays to immediately follow suit and provide PTVs for their constituents in preparation for the expected surge of covid cases due to the more infectious Omicron variant.

Anaban said an executive order earlier signed by the mayor allows the use of vehicles from the General Services, Buildings and Architecture, Environment and Parks Management offices for transport needs of the city’s contact tracers and swabbers.

She asked the mayor if these vehicles could also be tapped for picking-up of empty oxygen tanks from temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs), refilling and delivery especially during weekends.

In a media forum, January 11, the Mayor said that if needed, the city will hire public vehicles for covid patient transport as it did last year during the Delta surge. – Gaby B. Keith