SWAB TEST. A specimen is being extracted from a personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) during mass testing held at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on Tuesday (June 16, 2020). All personnel of the BFP regional and city offices who were on active duty since June 9 were subjected to the swab test after one of its employees was found positive of Covid-19. (Photo by Arnold Almacen/City Mayor’s Office)
ILOILO CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of Malay, Aklan has confirmed that the personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) found positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has stayed in Boracay Island for three days this month.
The official statement released by the LGU on June 16 said that based on the port manifesto, the BFP employee entered the island at about 5 p.m. on June 12 via the Tabon-Tambisaan Port and left Malay at 1:40 p.m. on June 14.
The BFP personnel is a 26-year-old woman who was categorized as a locally stranded individual (LSI), based on data released by the regional Department of Health - Center for Health Development on June 14.
On Monday, the Iloilo city government, through Executive Order 91, placed the regional and city offices of the BFP under lockdown.
Based on information provided to the city government, the personnel arrived from Cebu City on June 6 and underwent the swab test on June 9.
As an LSI, she was directed to observe the 14-day quarantine either at home or in a facility.
On the same date that the swab was taken, she was transferred to the BFP barracks along Macario Peralta Street from the Go Hotel, where she stayed upon her arrival.
Meanwhile, the statement released by the Malay LGU said the person claimed to have originated from Kalibo, Aklan and would be in Boracay “for a conference”.
“However, the BFP personnel allegedly went on unofficial business and violated quarantine protocols of both the municipality of Malay and municipality of Kalibo,” the statement said.
“The local government unit of Malay strongly condemns this irresponsible and blatant disregard of quarantine protocols.”
Malay acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista has already consulted the town’s legal office for the filing of appropriate cases as contact tracing and investigation of the series of events are being conducted, including establishments that “accepted the unofficial business of BFP personnel.”
In a phone interview by members of the media, Bautista said based on the list, 29 members of the BFP went to Boracay on June 12.
He said the BFP personnel who were in uniform were allowed to enter the island, being front-liners.
In Iloilo City, mass testing was conducted on Tuesday for BFP personnel who were on active duty since June 9.
They were required to undergo the 14-day quarantine period and submit themselves to contact tracing procedures.
The regional and city offices were also subjected to decontamination and sanitation procedures. (PNA)
