Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor, Jr. has just issued Executive Order No. 288, Series of 2021, entitled “AN ORDER TO ENFORCE ADDITIONAL COVID-19 SURGE MANAGEMENT MEASURES UNDER ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (ECQ) IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO”, effective immediately.
The Province of Iloilo is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 with 16,930 total confirmed cases, wherein 2,425 are active. For the two (2)-week period from July 18-31, 2021, the daily average of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 137.6, with an Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR) of 6.65, and a Two (2) Week Growth Rate of -8.81%.
“Owing to the COVID-19 situation in the Province of Iloilo and the confirmed entry of the Delta Variant, there is a need for additional COVID-19 surge management measures, pursuant to DOH Department Memorandum No. 2021-0327”, according to the EO of Governor Defensor.
Inorder to enhance the implementation of DOH Memorandum No. 2021-0327, the City/Municipal Mayor is mandated to enforce strict localized lockdowns, pursuant to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease – National Task Force COVID-19 (IATF-NTF) Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2020, in relation to Section 21 of EO 258, as amended, to enforce the ECQ policy that movement of persons shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, or work/conduct of business in allowed offices, establishments, industries and livelihood sectors, and that non-essential travel shall be prohibited.
Meanwhile, the said EO further mandates that pursuant to DOH Memorandum No. 2021-0327, the following health facilities response measures shall be taken: First, the COVID-19 dedicated hospital beds of the following: (i.) Aleosan District Hospital; (ii.) Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital; (iii.) Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital; (iv.) Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital; (v.) Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital; (vi.) Rep. Pedro Trono District Hospital; (vii.) Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital; (viii.) Don Valerio S. Palmares Memorial District Hospital; (ix.) Sara District Hospital; (x.) Federico Roman Tirador Memorial District Hospital; (xi.) Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. District Hospital; (xii.) San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital; and (xiii.) Iloilo Provincial Hospital, which is now at 50%, shall be prepared for immediate elevation to 50% to 70% of total hospital bed capacity. The Province shall continue to hire medical officers, medical specialists, nurses and such other personnel and secure additional medical equipment and supplies, in order to support the elevated capacity of the hospitals.
In addition, the Iloilo Provincial Hospital shall continue to be developed as a Level II hospital, and in the process immediately acquire COVID-19 severe/critical patient care capacity. And in compliant with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-064, DOH-DILG Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-001, and Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-234, the Province shall engage accommodation establishments (particularly in Iloilo City and near the tertiary hospitals) to augment the capacity of the Provincial LIGTAS COVID-19 Center as step-down (from tertiary hospitals) and step-up (prior to referral to tertiary hospitals) facility for COVID-19 patients of the Province. It shall also hire the needed personnel and acquire the necessary medical equipment and supplies in order to develop the capacity of such accommodation establishments.
Likewise, the Province of Iloilo shall collaborate with the National Government and private sector partners in the implementation of DOH Memorandum No. 2021-0327. The COVID-19 Case Referral System (COVID-19 CaRe System) of the Province under Section 25 of EO 258, as amended, shall be the system for rationalization and management of the hospital/health facility referral of its COVID-19 patients. (Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo)
