How Tinglayan Mayor and officials got the virus?

Tinglayan, Kalinga― Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, in an interview, said he and some officials became infected of the Covid-19 virus too, explaining that as public servants they cannot excuse themselves from not working just to avoid getting sick.

Gumilab said that working in the frontline, joining meetings, delivering supplies, and participating in the work of frontliners put him at risk but it is part of the job.

When the crisis exploded in the Municipality in November, marking Tinglayan as a Covid-19 hot spot Gumilab took accountability and laid out plans and measures to curb the transmission, working with various line agencies and the provincial government.

Along with his city officials and barangay officials, they first put parts of the municipality under lockdown. Nevertheless, lockingdown three barangays proved not enough as the virus was also transmitted by contacts who later tested positive.

It was in the frequent meeting and interaction with frontliners that Gumilab and other officials got the virus.

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“Ti naaramidan na garud daytoy naala tayo kananayun tayo ngay nga makimit meeting, maki in interact ti frontliners amin, and then pumutok daytoy crisis diay Bangad, COVID crisis diay Bangad, idi 3rd week ti November nga … Inggana di November 23 ket nag mi meeting kami diay munisipyo amin nga fronliners, officials ti Bangad dakami nga MIATF ket di nalpas diay meeting idiay ko nga in issue diay Executive order nga ilockdown mi diay Bangad, 3 nga barangays,” said Gumilab in an interview.

According to Gumilab, it was in November 28 that he came in contact with a person having a close contact with a positive case which he did not know then.

This happened while they were meeting people who could augment help with vehicles, manpower, and other resources. From November 29 to December 1, he and the other officials met at the command center of the Municipality to monitor the current situation, assess the Covid-19 operations in relation to the lockdown, and visiting frontliners as well as the barangays most affected.

Gumilab said it was on December 2 that they found out that one of their close contact is positive, and when situation appeared getting worse, he declared the total lockdown.

“Idi Wednesday, MIATF manen, so idiay nga Wednesday nga December 2, naamwan mi nga nagpositive ti maysa member ti Sanggunian nga kadkadwa mi sunga dakami nag isolate kami naswab kami idiay nga aldaw, indeclare ko nga close ti munisipyo amin nga MIATF members ket close contact kadakami dagidiay. December 5, indeclare ko nga lockdown ti Municipality of Tinglayan. Rumwar idi Saturday nga positive kami, indeclare ko nga dagus idi Saturday nga total lockdown iti municipality of Tinglayan,” related Gumilab.

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Since many of the officials got infected and they have to follow regulations, the Department of Health - Kalinga came in to help with one doctor, a med tech, and six nurses. Gumilab is thankful for the manpower provided saying the virus really had fast transmission affecting too many residents.

Gumilab admitted the difficulty but said that they cannot stop to work and that even under home quarantine he and his officials are doing something.

“Di first ah ket nagnerbyos nak nga talaga ngem anya ngay grud, frontliners tayo ngem ti narigat lang diay maquarantine nga nabayag. Okay met ti sitwasyon ko, idi damu ket awan ti maangot ko di first 3 days ngem nagsubli met tatta okay met,” said the Mayor.

Gumilab extended his gratefulness to the help of other municipalities and line agencies as well as the provincial government for assisting the municipality. He hopes that they will lengthen their patience and continue to work with them in putting Covid-19 problem under control.

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