By Jennifer P. Rendon
Health officials have recognized contact tracing as one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has also recognized this strategy.
In fact, from the initial 1,011 police officers who are taking part in the government’s contact tracing efforts, it has grown to 1,473 personnel who are actively participating in 205 contract tracing teams all over Western Visayas.
The number is on top of the 204 PRO-6 personnel who are graduates of medical-related courses and are part of the PRO-6 contact tracing efforts.
Of the 204 officers who are graduates of medical-related courses, 23 are from the Aklan Police Provincial Office; 3 from Antique PPO; 26 from Capiz PPO; 5 from Guimaras PPO; 45 from Iloilo PPO; 30 from Negros Occidental PPO; 23 from Iloilo City PO; 21 from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (RFMB-6); and 8 from the PRO-6 headquarters.
Late August, PRO-6 declared that it would take on a more aggressive role in contact tracing efforts.
Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, made the announcement August 31, as the region grapples to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The PRO-6 certainly could afford to be active given that they have already trained personnel to do contract tracing.
Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) data showed that a series of training was done for the purpose.
The teams were trained along with personnel from the Department of Health and local health units, the local government units, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT).
The seminar was conducted in coordination with DOH, DILG and DOST. It will be cascaded up to the barangay level.
While the PNP is just a member of the contact tracing team, the police must still be at the forefront, he said.
“Our policemen should be the most active member of the composite team by providing transportation to ease travels during the course of contact tracing and communicate with the barangay on updates or whereabouts of persons being monitored or have had contact with COVID-19 patients,” Pamuspusan earlier said.
He cited that the police play an essential role in contact tracing because they have the basic investigation skills and can easily be mobilized.
After all, “our personnel are capable and willing,” Pamuspusan said.
In the past months, he noted that PRO-6 has been very active in COVID-19 response and prevention efforts.
