Mayor slammed for closing town’s hospital

 By Mortz  C. Ortigoza

Concerned citizens and a broadcaster denounced the mayor of Sual, Pangasinan for closing the Primary Care Facility (PCF) there.

DWPR -Dagupan Broadcaster Francisco Tamayo, Jr., known as Macky Delgado, assailed Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay after the latter closed last April 16 this year the community hospital located at Barangay Caoayan.

“Sa panahon ng pandemic ang pagpasara ng hospital ng pagamutan ay taliwas po sa utos ng Malacanang at mismo ng DOH,” he howled at his 10 to 11 A.M radio program.

Tamayo slammed the Executive Order No.23 of Calugay that temporarily closed the PCF.

10-ROOM HOSPITAL. The ten-room’s Sual Primary Care Facility during its ground breaking ceremony in June 15, 2016.

A listener deplored to Tamayo that the closure of the PCF prejudiced those who suffered asthma, fever, cough, hypertension, heart problem, and other ailment.

“What will happen to us residents of Sual?” the listener posed a question.

Tamayo became emotional upon learning that residents of the coastal town are barred now to the facility whose construction commenced in June 15, 2016.

“Nakakalungkot isipin merong mga hospital na tumatanggi sa mga pasyente dahil ano ang dahilan? Unang una natatakot sila na ang pasyente ay positive ng Covid. Mga sira ulo kayong mga ospital na umaayaw sa pasyente. Mga gago po ang mga hospital na tumantanggi sa mga pasyente,” he scowled.

Field reporter Joseph Lomibao told Tamayo in a phone patch that a certain Kiko Vinluan who allegedly works at the town’s wharf said that a doctor and four nurses from the PCF have been quarantined at the wharf after they were suspected to be infected by the dreaded Corona Virus Disease-19 pandemic.
Another source, who asked for anonymity, told this writer that Vinluan is a nurse at PCF.

“Ang sinasabi po ay nasa quarantine apat na nurse staff doon sa primary care facility. Iyon lang  ang ating impormasyon. Tinawagan lang natin dahil nasa labas iyong nangangalang Kiko Vinluan siya iyong nagbigay ng impormasyon”.

Another listener told Tamayo that the PCF is being used as quarantine area of those who are suspected to be infected by the COVID-19.

“They should return the hospital to the people of Sual and not as a quarantine facility. Ailing people of Sual are at the receiving end,” he said in Filipino.

The texter quoted a TV news report that public schools can be used as quarantine area for persons under investigation of the dreaded disease.

In the April 19 post at the Facebook  called Sual Page, a photo of hospital personnel garbed in their personal protective equipment (PPE) decontaminate the hospital.

Its caption said “Video: Technical Decontamination of PCF – Infirmary Clinic at Barangay Caoayan. Courtesy: SRU Pangasinan”. 

April 16 letter of Sual Mayor Liseldo Calugay that a doctor at the town's infirmary was suspected to be infected by the Corona Virus Disease-19. He said the temporary closure of the Primary Care Facility was based on his Executive Order 23.