PDRRMC CS sends home 41 quarantine ‘graduates’

QUARANTINE GRADUATES. Some of the 41 individuals who finished the mandatory 14-day quarantine period at the Gov. Mariano Villafuerte Community College, Libmanan campus. (Photo By Pasada Rinconada Camarines Sur)

LIBMANAN, Camarines Sur --- Some 41 persons under monitoring (PUM) received their “Graduation” certificate after finishing their mandatory 14-day quarantine period at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC_-managed quarantine site, here.

The Gov. Mariano Villafuerte Community College - Libmanan Campus served as temporary refuge for these internally displaced persons (IDP) who came from Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces where there were recorded Covid-19 cases.

They decided to come home amid the imposition of the Luzon-wide lockdown. Trapped at the Del Gallego border, they were not permitted to go home after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a directive placing the entire Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Pursuant to the said order, borders were closed and movements were restricted to contain the spread of the virus.

PDRRMC Camarines Sur on the order of Gov. Migz Villafuerte, promptly coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) to identify government-operated community colleges to serve as temporary quarantine areas to accommodate the stranded individuals and ensure that they are virus-free when they return to their communities and to their respective families.

“With nowhere to go, these PUM are set to pose more risks if left aimlessly loitering in the borders, with no food and shelter. If one of them is a carrier, the probability of spreading the virus is high and the risk of infecting others is an imminent danger. Between strictly imposing the lockdown and humanitarian consideration, we choose compassion,” Luzena Bermeo, PDRRMC secretariat and Environment and Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) chief said.

The provincial government provided the PUM with vitamins, plastic mat and blanket upon arrival at the community college. They were attended to by more or less 30 camp management staff and responders who look after their needs round the clock and an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team daily monitored their vital signs, including temperature and blood pressure.

A resident doctor came twice or thrice a week to monitor the PUM’s health condition and conduct free medical check-up. A team from the Philippine National Police (PNP) was also at the camp to ensure the safety and orderliness inside the facility, while DepEd personnel conducted IEC and psycho social activities. On top of these, EDMERO supervised the IDP needs, making sure that supplies, including meals were provided and that decontamination activities were done regularly.

These PUM spent the entire 14 days with daily exercise, psycho social activities, chores to keep their surroundings clean and orderly and enriching their spiritual needs through the daily scripture reflection. Also as precautionary measures to the PDRRMC front liners, the provincial government ensured that personal protective equipment were provided to them, including vitamins, meals and decontamination supplies.

Of the 41 PUM, four are from Pili; Libmanan,5; Pamplona, 1; San Jose, 2; Canaman, 1; Presentacion, 2; Garchitorena, 4; Goa,2 ; Baao, 1; Calabanga,14; Naga City, 3; Ocampo,1; and Sipocot, 1, all in Camarines Sur.