Romar Miranda and Ruil Alabi

Telecommunications giant Smart Communications repurposed a dilapidated watchtower on Pag-asa Island, tapping a national cellular network capable of sustaining phone calls and text messages.

Jonathan Dabuit, information officer of Busuanga town, told Palawan News that 60 suspect patients, who were considered as “primary contact individuals” of the local transmission case that originated in the neighboring town of Coron, were placed under strict home quarantine as Ospital Ng Palawan (ONP) was grounded due to lack of GeneXpert cartridges.

Dr. Rhodora Tingson, the municipal health officer (MHO) in Sofronio Española, told Palawan News on Monday morning that they have yet to trace the source of the virus, which the regional health authorities categorized as a “local transmission” case.

Dr. Rhodora Tingson, municipal health office (MHO) chief in this southern town, said that the latest cases were returnees from the National Capital Region (NCR), including a 31-year-old male (Patient No. 7), a five-year-old female (Patient No. 8), and a 25-year-old female (Patient No. 9).

All of the cases are from locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who returned to Palawan aboard 2GO Shipping Lines passenger vessels on June 5 and June 14.

Sofronio Española town mayor Marsito Acoy said that the law enforcers have informed the Muslim communities to prevent mass gatherings during the Ramadan season, which is poised to start on April 24 subject to the moon sighting for confirmation on Thursday evening (April 23).