Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has formed a team that will handle all returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs).

The Provincial Qurantine Team (PQ Team), under Executive Order No. 134, is directed to “enforce the vital health and protective measures in all ports of entry within the province of Iloilo.”

The PQ Team is headed by acting provincial administrator Suzette Mamon as chairperson, Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado as vice chairperson, and Dr. Ma. Socorro Quinon as co-vice chairperson.

The formation of the team is part of the provincial government’s prepartion for the resumption of commercial operations at the Iloilo International Airport.

Specifically, the PQ Team is tasked to do the following:

▪Collect and process HDCs and other required documents.
▪Monitor the health of incoming passengers with thermal scanners and other similar devices, as well as, ensure the performance of personal hygiene procedures, like hand washing and/or application of disinfectants, upon entry to the province.
▪Perform quarantine procedure to any Persons under Monitoring (PUM), Persons Under Investigation (PUI) under the decision tool of the Department of Health.
▪Register passengers with all the relevant information and transmit the same to the respective city or municipalities for monitoring and execution of quarantine procedures.
▪Convene and coordinate to formulate measures and procedures in the execution of their functions.

As of Tuesday, June 9, the Office Of the Civil Defense (OCD-6) has recorded 1,343 stranded OFWs and LSIs who arrived in the province.

Of the total number, eight have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the DOH-6.

One of the infected repatriated has died while four have recovered.

Defensor said he is expecting more OFWs and LSIs to aarive in the province this month.IMT

Photo by OWWA-6