MP gov’t, Bontoc town reopens after lockdown

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Following two reported cases of Covid-19 here, this capital town was reopened Thursday after it was locked down July 25 even as provincial offices at the capitol are set to open Aug. 2.

Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr.  declared suspension of work  at provincial offices  July 27 to August 2 to  give way to hastened contact tracing and disinfection processes.

This, after two staff of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office tested positive for Covid-19 on July 25.

Both were admitted at the Bontoc General Hospital with mild symptoms.

In a PDRRMO social media post, PDRRM officer-lawyer Edward Chumawar Jr. said  their “frontliners have always taken precaution against Covid-19  but  constant exposure of the staff  in the discharge of their functions cannot really be avoided given the nature of our mandate." 

Sixteen other PDRRMO  personnel tested negative from the virus.

He urged strict observance of minimum health protocols and honesty in telling travel and exposure history. 

With these new cases, Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsey issued an executive order placing barangays Bontoc Ili, Caluttit, Poblacion and Samoki under lockdown from July 27 to 29 to facilitate contact tracing of primary contacts of the two.

Nearby local government units have  also   temporarily suspended  travels to and from Bontoc.

Bauko mayor Abraham Akilit, Sabangan Mayor Marcial C. Lawilao, Jr., and Tadian Mayor Constito Masweng issued orders temporarily suspending travels to and from the capital town effective immediately until further notice.

Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan, also suspended  travel to and from  Bontoc including  Tabuk City and Pinukpuk in Kalinga due to  Covid-19 cases.

Mountain Province has five Covid-19 confirmed cases, three of them from Bontoc. -- PIA Mt. Province