5 reasons why Batanes remains COVID-19 free

Batanes is now the only province in the Philippines that remains free from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a report on “Stand For Truth,” Shai Lagarde listed down how the province isolated itself from the negative effects of the pandemic.

1. Early prevention

The local government unit of Batanes started its own action plan against the COVID-19 threat even before the national government did.

“Bago pa man magdeklara ng community quarantine ang NCR, maaga ng nagkaroon ng iba’t ibang pagpupulong ang task force. Maaga ring in-activate ang mga barangay health, maaga rin kaming nagsara,” said Gov. Marilou Cayco.

Cayco said as early as January, the province had deployed a monitoring and screening team at Basco airport.

2. No VIPs and exceptions when it came to protocols

According to Cayco, 443 LSIs (locally stranded individuals) were able to go back to their homes in Batanes after strictly observing the 14-day quarantine period.

“Pinababantayan ng 24/7 ng mga pulis para hindi lumabas hanggang matapos ang 14-day quarantine,” said the governor.

Even though Philippine Airlines has resumed its flights, Batanes allows arrivals only every 16 days to allow 14 days of quarantine period and 1 day for disinfection of facilities.

“Ang pwede lang nilang maisakay ay 65. Mahigpit kami dun kasi dumi-depende kami sa quarantine facilities,” said Cayco.

According to the governor, every municipality has its own quarantine facility.

“Sa Batanes merong 249 quarantine facilities. Halimbawa taga-Basco ka, mga taga-Basco lang ’yung pwede sa quarantine facility ng Basco,” she said.

Hilda Agsolid, who has been serving as a tour guide since 2006, said not even government officials were exempted from the strict protocols.

“Kahit nga yung gobernador namin noong umuwi siya dito, talagang na-quarantine ’yun, hindi pumunta sa capitol. Sa amin, hindi porke may posisyon sa gobyerno, pa-wardi-wardi ka lang,” said Hilda.

“Kapag nakikita mo yung mga namumuno sa amin na magaling, susunod ka talaga,” she added.

Hilda said the Ivatans dutifully followed health and safety protocols.

“Hindi ka pwedeng lumabas ng bahay na walang face mask, eto nga yung face mask ko kaya po kami nananatiling COVID-free dahil very strict ang namununo,” she said.

3. Quarantine “resorts”

In Batanas, LSIs are quarantined at resorts, where they have a breathtaking view of the province.

Maria Claire Gulaga, who got home on July 1, shared her quarantine experience.

“All packed up na ko pauwi sana ng Batanes noon, pero naabutan nga ng lockdown,” said Claire.

“Very depressing kasi nakikita mo sa social media na okay dito sa lugar namin tapos sa Manila ’di tayo pwede lumabas.”

Claire was one of the LSIs who arrived via PAL’s first flight to the province in three months.

She said upon touch down at the airport, strict protocols were put in place.

“Makikita mo talaga na hindi dahil COVID-free kami, petiks lang. Hinatid kami sa mga quarantine facilities dito,” she said.

“Sa pinuntahan ko isang villa siya tapos dalawa lang kami, tig-isa kaming floor. Dito rumoronda ako sa second floor kasi wala talaga akong kasama dun. ’Yung isa naman nasa 3rd floor so di kami nagkikita.”

Every day, they were given three meals and their temperatures were taken twice.

“’Pag galing ka ng Manila, masasabi mo na ay ang OA pala ng mga taga-Batanes. Sa sobrang ka-OA-an siguro kaya COVID-free sila dito,” said Claire.

4. Health over economy

Batanes implemented strict health and safety protocols so as not to risk the lives of its residents.

According to Cayco, they chose health over the economy.

“Iniisip ko kung ano bang gagawin kasi siyempre, maraming mawawalan ng trabaho pag sinara mo ’yan,” said the governor.

“Mawawalan ng negosyo yung may mga hotels, may restaurant, fishermen, gumagawa ng souvenir items,” she added.

Despite the risk of incurring losses in the tourism and economic aspects, Cayco said they prioritized the health of the Ivatans.

“Pero inisip namin, ekonomiya ba o kalusugan? Siyempre pinili namin ang kalusugan kaya sinara namin ang Batanes sa mga turista,” she said.

“Mas madaling tulungan ang nawalan ng trabaho o negosyo kaysa mawalan ng buhay. Ang pera ay kikitain pero pag nawalan ng buhay, hindi mo na yan maibabalik,” she pointed out.

Cayco also said they were strict the rules because they lacked health facilities and had only one functioning hospital in the province.

“’Yung sa Itbayat, nasira nung earthquake nung July 27, 2019. So isa lang ’yung ospital namin, dalawa lang ang air ventilator. Kulang din kami sa gamot at frontliners,” she said.

Mayor Raul de Sagon said Itbayat was the first to close its borders due to the destruction brought by the earthquake that they were still recovering from.

“Sinikap namin na bigyan ng premium ’yung prevention, kasi alam namin na we cannot cope kung merong outbreak dito,” he said.

“Even before the protocols sa national level, inunahan na namin i-restrict yung entry dito sa isla,’ he added.

According to De Sagon, as early as late February, they have started talking with individuals who will be arriving in the province.

“Later in early March, hindi na namin pinayagan ’yung mga tourist, local and foreign tourists na dumating,” he said.

5. Bayanihan

Their sense of community is intact, which is why the Ivatans are disciplined in every move they make.

“Kapag sinabihan mo sila, hindi sila ’yung normally sa city na, ‘wala yan,’ ’di maniniwala hangga’t walang nakikitang severe case. Ayaw din naman nila, sa sobrang pagmamahal sa pamilya, sobrang ingat din nila,” said Claire.

According to Hilda, even though Batanes’ tourism industry is badly affected, what’s important is that they help out each other.

“Tinutulungan kami ng provincial gov na makaahon sa pang-araw-araw,” she said.

“Resilient naman ang Ivatan, nagtatanim kami ng gulay, nag-aalaga ng baboy. Nakakaahon kami dahil sa pagtutulungan,” she added.

Ivatan photographer Opal Bala, who had taken photos of the locals’ COVID-free life, said: “Sabi nga ng governor, mas unahin ’yung kalusugan bago yung turismo. Babalik naman ang turismo pag wala nang COVID.” – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News