Board Member Juan Antonio Alvarez has urged the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to establish COVID-19 testing centers in Palawan’s major tourism hubs.
Alvarez said in a privilege speech during the special session on Wednesday that the PRC is already planning to put up its centers to mitigate the COVID-19 spread.
He said they could be established in El Nido, San Vicente, Coron, and Balabac.
“Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay may balak din sila maglagay sa mga tourism hubs. Baka puwede din tayo mag-request na malagyan [ng testing centers] ang mga hospitals natin sa mga tourism areas katulad ng San Vicente, El Nido, Coron, at Balabac,” he said.
He also said that it would be better if they send a letter to the PRC as they are targeting tourism hubs.
“Unahan na natin ng request kasi sabi nila tourism hubs ang kanilang target,” Alvarez said.
Board member Ryan Maminta also said that PRC has already stated that centers will be put up in three tourism destinations, including Palawan.
“Bohol, Aklan, and Palawan para suporta sa mga tourism destinations. Bago sana magkaroon ng aktibidad sa turismo ay ma-test sila,” he said.
In addition, board member Cherry Pie Acosta also recommended to the provincial government the establishment of its own blood center, which is very important to the hospital patients.
“The provincial government should consider the establishment of another blood center kasi kapag humihingi tayo ng tulong sa kanila, our constituents need to pay pa rin. Ang atin lang, this is just a suggestion dahil isa po ito sa pinakapangunahing kailangan natin,” Acosta.
Board member Eduardo Modesto Rodriguez suggested that Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital (SPPH) old building in Brooke’s Point may be used as a blood center of the province.
He said that there was already a proposal for the establishment of the centers, however, it did not materialize.
“Mayroon po tayong proposal doon sa southern Palawan, sa Brooke’s Point na blood center hiniling natin kay gob kasi dati sabi ng DOH kailangan ng P50 million para sa building at mga facilities. Ang pagtatag ng blood center ay ilagay doon sa dating building ng southern Palawan hospital. Napakaimportante nito kaya hinihingi natin ito na mapagbigyan lalo na sa Brooke’s Point dahil may building na,” Rodriguez said.
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