BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Barangay Estefania in Bacolod has recorded 100 COVID-19 cases, the highest number of persons infected in the city, based on a report of the City Health Office in a meeting with the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center Task Force Tuesday.
The Department of Health earlier reported that Estefania is the number one barangay in Western Visayas with the most number of COVID-19 cases.
Latest data from the CHO showed that the 10 barangays in Bacolod with the highest number of cases are: Estefania with 100, Taculing – 77, Villamonte – 65, Banago – 62, Mansilingan and Mandalagan – 61 cases each, Alijis – 55 cases, Tangub – 46 cases, Bata – 39 cases and Garanda – 38.
Barangay Estefania Captain Jerry Tingson said yesterday that most of the cases involve call center agents, locally stranded individuals (LSIs), overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and city employees.
Most have already recovered, he added.
Tingson said their barangay has also the highest number of residents who submitted themselves for mass testing on August 27 to 29. Since there were about 500 residents who were tested, those who were not accommodated had to undergo swabbing at the BAYS Center.
He said they are still waiting for the results of the test since out of the first 100 results from the mass testing that were released, not one came was from Estefania.
At present, more than 50 houses, mostly in the subdivisions in Estefania, have been sealed off, Tingson said.
Barangay Estefania is the second biggest barangay in Bacolod in terms of population after Barangay Mansilingan. It has a population of close to 60,000, Tingson said.
Tingson said they will continue to impose the strict implementation of the mayor’s executive orders and health protocols like the wearing of face mask and social distancing.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who was sent by President Rodrigo Duterte to help curb the rising COVID-19 cases in Bacolod, told barangay officials Tuesday to “locate the virus first” as this is the primary step towards effectively containing the spread of the COVID-19.
Cimatu said barangays with high numbers of COVID-19 cases should be prioritized.
“This is the game of the barangay captains. You were elected by your people to lead them especially during this crisis,” Cimatu said.*
