By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Monday appealed to the public to avoid discriminating city government workers after three of its staff contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
During the city government’s weekly flag ceremony Monday, Treñas reiterated to city hall staff that two personnel from the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) and one nurse from the City Health Office have tested positive for COVID-19.
He first confirmed the details to the media on Sunday.
The mayor asked city hall workers and the public not to discriminate three patients, their families, and other city government workers.
“Indi naton pag-discriminate ang iban nga mga empleyado ta. Let us understand. Ga-worry man na sila sa ila nga pamilya kay bisan asymptomatic, positive man guihapon,” Treñas said.
One of the PSTMO staff worked at the city’s COVID-19 Operations Center (OpCen).
The OpCen’s operations have been consolidated to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) in the meantime.
Both the PSTMO and the City Health Office were scaled down to a skeletal workforce as those who had been in contact with the three patients are under quarantine.
PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu posted on his personal Facebook account on Monday, admitting that despite the difficulty of scaling down staff, their work continues.
“Apisar mabudlay aton gina atubang ang indi naton makita nga pangontra. Padayon ang obra kay amo sini ang tawag sang aton obligasyon ang pag atubang sang mga high risk nga mga persona,” Conlu said.
