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The Iloilo City Government, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, has officially declared an outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough) during Monday’s emergency meeting, March 25, 2024.
FREE SWAB TEST. Iloilo City will offer free swab tests for students when required for their face-to-face classes. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas on Monday (April 18, 2022) said schools only need to send their letter request to the office of the city mayor to avail of the free swab test. (PNA file photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor's Office) ILOILO CITY - The city government here is offering free reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to students who will be required to present a negative result when going back to their school. "Any school that requests for a free RT-PCR test we are giving them for free, at the same time only a few of our residents are submitting to the test," Mayor Jerry Trenas said in a press conference on Monday. Universities and colleges should submit a letter request with the names of the students who will undergo the swab test to the office of the city mayor. A duly appointed representative from the school may coordinate with the Uswag Molecular Laboratory for the schedule and release of results. The laboratory on average caters to 150 to 200 clients. Aside from students, also submitting to the swab test are those who are required to undergo the test for admission in hospitals, surgery, chemotherapy, blood transfusion, and employment. (PNA) }
STILL IN EFFECT. The negative swab test requirement for returning residents coming from outside of Western Visayas is still in effect in Iloilo. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. in his press conference on Thursday (Feb. 10, 2022) says the province may transition to different protocols in the coming days.(Photo screengrab from Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo FB live streaming) ILOILO CITY - The Iloilo provincial government will keep its negative swab test result taken 72 hours before travel as a requirement for returning residents coming from outside of Western Visayas. In his regular press conference on Thursday, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the province may transition to different travel protocols but "we are not sure of that yet". "What we are doing actually is just reducing the risk as much as we can. We want the airport and the airplane to be a safer place for our returning residents," he said. Travelers from Manila (flight) or those that came from all over Luzon, especially in its surrounding areas and not just from Metro Manila, Defensor added. The requirement stands until Feb. 15 as per Executive Orders No.040 and 040-A, series of 2022, signed by Defensor placing the province under Alert Level 3. He said the transition is expected on Feb. 16 but is unsure of what will happen since it will all be dependent on the Covid-19 situation in the province. As of February 8, Iloilo province has 6,324 active cases, 34,930 recoveries, and 1,155 deaths. Meantime, the city government has scrapped its swab upon arrival requirement for all fully vaccinated travelers effective February 9. "Fully vaccinated individuals arriving in Iloilo City are no longer mandated to submit themselves to a NPS/OPS/RT-PCR (nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal/reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing upon arrival, and will not also be required to undergo quarantine," said Mayor Jerry P. Trenas through Executive Order No.15 issued on Wednesday. However, partially and unvaccinated individuals still have to undergo quarantine upon arrival and submit to the RT-PCR test after three days of quarantine at the Uswag Molecular Laboratory without cost. Partially and unvaccinated individuals coming from countries classified as "Red" also need to complete their 14-day quarantine and undergo a swab test without cost five days from the day of arrival. Iloilo City has been classified under Alert Level 3 until February 15. (PNA) }
The facility also stores provisions of the City Health Office, including PPEs, face masks, and other in-kind COVID-19-related supplies donated to the city government
EXPANSION. The Iloilo City government is eyeing to expand the services of its molecular laboratory based in Barangay San Pedro in Molo district to already include genome sequencing. Currently, it can perform up to 800 tests a day with a 24-hour turnaround time.(PNA photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor's Office) ILOILO CITY - The city government here is eyeing to expand the services of its molecular laboratory to already include the conduct of genome sequencing. Chiqui Blancaflor, head of the Uswag Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory based in Barangay San Pedro in Molo district, said that they still have to capacitate the laboratory for genome sequencing that will take some time, undergo training, and purchase the needed equipment. "It will take some time but we are hoping to have it done before the end of the year," she said in an interview Wednesday. Currently, tests for genome sequencing are being sent to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) in Manila. The city government-owned laboratory last week sent 15 samples to the PGC for testing of possible variants because they have noticed a "different presentation" on the specimens. The laboratory, which started operations on Nov. 25, 2020, can perform up to 800 tests a day with a turn-around time of 24 hours. Amid the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the city government on Wednesday reiterated the laboratory offers free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for both residents and non-residents of the city with flu-like symptoms and health care workers. The swab test is also free for residents of the city who are close contacts of positive patients, unvaccinated returning residents, returning overseas Filipino workers (ROFWs), Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), and vulnerable groups for blood transfusion or hospital admission. "If they have a history of travel whether vaccinated or unvaccinated and you would like to submit yourself for testing we will accept you at the Uswag Molecular Laboratory. Our current site for swabbing is at the La Paz covered gym," Blancaflor said. She added that the laboratory charge is only PHP800.00, which is one of the cheapest if not the cheapest in the country. The laboratory is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to noontime. Iloilo City Covid-19 focal person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna also urged those with symptoms to seek consultation and be swabbed in district health centers, which are open on weekdays. He added that barangay health emergency response teams (BHERTs) are active in their monitoring amid the increasing cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). As per the latest Covid-19 bulletin released by the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD), Iloilo City has 480 active cases, 21, 242 recoveries, and 627 deaths as of January 11. (PNA) }
RESTRICTIONS. Lawyer Fydah Sabando of the Iloilo City Legal Office (CLO) in a virtual press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022) presents the travel restrictions that will be imposed by the city government especially with the confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the city. She said the mandatory swab upon arrival for all travelers will take effect starting Jan. 7, 2022.(Screenshot during the virtual press conference) ILOILO CITY - The city and province of Iloilo have tightened travel requirements for inbound travelers from outside of Western Visayas amid the looming rise in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) due to the highly-contagious Omicron variant. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Wednesday issued his first Executive Order (EO) for this year extending the Alert Level 2 status of the province, which included a provision requiring a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 72 hours before travel for returning residents and non-residents regardless of vaccination status. The same is required for the Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs, but this one is still subject to the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), according to the EO. "The negative RT-PCR for those fully vaccinated shall be effective January 10, 2022," the EO reads. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas also issued EO 001 on Tuesday for the implementation of Alert Level 2 that provides guidelines on the travel of persons and management of cases, especially that one confirmed Omicron variant infection in the city. Lawyer Fydah Sabando of the City Legal Office (CLO), in a press conference on Wednesday, said the mayor decided to impose the mandatory swab upon arrival of all travelers, including returning overseas Filipino workers (ROFWs), APORs, returning residents, and non-essential travelers and tourists starting this January 7. "We can remember that previously we have eased out the restrictions on travel, especially that there is already automatic approval through the S-PaSS (Safe, Swift and Smart Passage) System," she said. Fully vaccinated travelers have to submit for the RT-PCR test at the Uswag Molecular Laboratory at the La Paz covered gymnasium upon arrival and undergo quarantine while waiting for their negative result, Sabando said. Those partially vaccinated or without vaccines have to undergo quarantine and submit to the swab test on the third day from arrival. Meanwhile, those coming from Negros island have only to present their vaccination card if they are fully vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated or are partially inoculated may opt to present a negative RT-PCR result taken 72 hours before travel or submit to a free swab test upon arrival. "We would like to remind everyone that since our first line of defense is testing to arrest transmission, so the test is without cost. The mayor really mandates for the swab of all travelers arriving here in Iloilo City," she said. (PNA) }
(Photo courtesy ofMayor Jerry P. TrenasFacebook) ILOILO CITY - Iloilo City is on heightened alert against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) even if there are no confirmed cases yet of the Omicron variant. On his Facebook page, Mayor Jerry P. Trenas announced the city government will test inbound travelers from the National Capital Region (NCR), Cebu, and Boracay Island. The Uswag Molecular Laboratory will also conduct voluntary testing. NCR is under Alert Level 3 until January 15. "We are better prepared now. We have already started talking about the possibility of imposing quarantine for travelers from other places," Trenas said in an interview Monday. He urged residents to stop mingling with people outside their households as he emphasized the need to be proactive even if the city has no Omicron variant cases. "We need to protect ourselves and our families. I am asking everyone to get their booster shots three months after their second dose. We need to have additional protection against Omicron," he said. The city government has already requested additional doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from the national government in preparation for the inoculation of minors aged 5 to 11 years old and completion of primary doses. "We are targeting a total of 60,000 minors, 5 to 11 years old," he added. (PNA) }
RELAXED REQUIREMENTS. The Iloilo City government continues to ramp up its vaccination program in this undated photo. Mayor Jerry P. Trenas, in Executive Order 125-A released Tuesday evening (Oct.19, 2021), said fully vaccinated inbound travelers no longer have to present a negative result of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test to secure the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS).(Photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor's Office) ILOILO CITY - The local government here has relaxed its requirements for inbound travels of fully vaccinated individuals effective immediately. Executive Order 125-A released by Mayor Jerry P. Trenas on Tuesday evening said returning city residents, authorized persons outside of residence (APORs), returning overseas Filipino workers (ROFs), and non-APORS from Negros Island traveling for essential purposes no longer have to present a negative result of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test to secure the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-PaSS). Instead, they only need to submit the electronic copy of their vaccination card and certification from the city/municipal or provincial health office or competent foreign authorities, as with the case of ROFs, that they are fully vaccinated and valid identification cards or whenever accessible their vaccination certificate that can be obtained through www.vaxcert.doh.gov.ph ROFs may wish to submit to the RT-PCR test at the Uswag Molecular Laboratory at no cost within seven days from arrival. "Quarantine upon arrival for fully vaccinated individuals shall no longer be required," he added as with the case of APORs and returning city residents. Non-APORs who are not fully inoculated from Negros island have to follow the guidelines of the local government such as enrollment to the S-PaSS and negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours before travel. APORs, returning city residents, and ROFs without vaccination need to secure their S-PaSS and negative RT-PCR test and observe the quarantine requirement upon arrival. On the other hand, travelers who are 5 to 17 years old are still required to secure an S-PaSS, undergo the swab test on the third day from arrival, and observe the quarantine requirement. "Said quarantine may be at the designated quarantine facilities or hotel, as long as duly accompanied by parent/guardian or at the comforts of their homes, only if the same allows for effective isolation," the EO added. While the travel requirements are being relaxed, the mayor said that minors 15 years old and below and senior citizens 65 years old and above are still not allowed to enter malls and shopping centers except when obtaining essential goods and services. Iloilo City is under general community quarantine (GCQ) until the end of this month. (PNA) }
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