Gwen Garcia insists Cebu protocol effective, offers IATF a compromise

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia on Tuesday insisted that the province's protocols for incoming travelers had been effective in preventing the entry of COVID-19 cases even if it deviated from those of the national government.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras", Garcia offered a compromise in which Cebuanos who are tested upon arrival and who yield negative results on third day would be placed at isolation centers.

Non-Cebuanos, on the other hand, would have to follow the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases protocol for a ten-day hotel quarantine upon arrival. 

"We have proven in the Cebu protocol that we were able to manage in spite of the fact that we would release after the swab on arrival on the third day... We will test them again on the seventh day," Garcia said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles met with Garcia and the provincial board as regards the the national governmsnt and Cebu's differing protocols for incoming travelers.

"Very clearly that in no uncertain terms that the quarantine protocol has been followed by the nation except the province of Cebu," Health Chief Francisco Duque III said in a meeting with the Cebu provincial board to discuss the  travel protocols.

"We cannot afford to have another surge and as they say it only takes one India variant or Delta variant and the rules have been changed," said Karlo Nograles, co-chair of IATF.

It can be recalled that Garcia set aside the implementation of her executive order on the Cebu travel protocols.

"I am trying to protect Cebu. If anyone should be blamed, blame me. We have proven in the Cebu protocol that we were able to manage. In spite of the fact that we would release after the swab on arrival on the third day, we will test them again on the seventh day," Garcia said. —NB, GMA News