Bothered by possible MERS-CoV outbreak
Nancy urges DOH to tap barangay officials in tracking passengers
from Middle East flight

Senator Nancy Binay urged the Department of Health (DOH) to enlist the help of barangay officials in tracking down 174 passengers from a Middle East flight who might have been exposed to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV).

"We need to act fast to prevent a possible outbreak? of this deadly respiratory virus," she said.

"The DOH can enlist the help of barangay officials to locate the passengers. They are the most capable to look for them since they are familiar with their constituents," the lady senator added.

"They know the families that make up their community so reporting to the DOH would be faster since they are already on the ground," Binay said.

Binay also appealed for the passengers to voluntarily submit themselves to testing.

"That is not only for their own good but also for their relatives' and communities' well-being and peace of mind," she said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already ordered its units to track the passengers of Etihad flight number 0424 from Abu Dhabi. A male nurse, who was on the flight, tested positive for the virus but succeeding tests here in the country showed negative results.

Binay said the DOH should empower the barangay officials and equip them with the necessary information, training and equipment to help them in tracking.

"I think it would be easier for the passengers to talk to their barangay officials since they know them, rather than to a police officer," Binay said. "It will also free the policemen in doing their tasks and responsibilities, especially that there is a shortage in their numbers," she added.

Binay also called upon the DOH to put up measures to filter and sift through the levels of quarantine from the port of entry to the passengers' domiciles.

"It might be best for the DOH to review the protocols in place to see if these are still current and the necessary people know these protocols and are prepared to implement if that is the case," Binay said.

"Marami nang mga ganitong uring sakit, tulad ng SARS at coronavirus, ang nagbanta sa kalusugan nating mga Pilipino, so mabuting maging handa, hindi lamang ang DOH at ang pambansang pamahalaan, kundi pati na rin ang mga local na pamahalaan hanggang sa lebel ng barangay," she added.