313 PCG frontline personnel infected with Covid-19

A total of 313 officers and other frontline personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have tested positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), according to a ranking official yesterday.

In a radio interview over DZBB, PCG Spokesperson, Commodore Armando Balilo, said the number of cases was reported with most of those infected involved in the government’s response against Covid-19.

“Karamihan sa kanila ay mga swabbers sa airport, bus drivers sa ‘Libreng Sakay’ program ng DOTr [Department of Transportation], mga crew ng barko na naghahatid ng LSIs [locally stranded individuals], maski mga personnel sa quarantine control checkpoints at dito sa headquarters (Most of them were swabbers at the airport, bus drivers for the DOTr’s ‘Free Ride’ program, part of ship crews who were bringing LSIs home, as well as quarantine checkpoint personnel and some were working here at the PCG headquarters),” Balilo said.

He said that while the PCG exercised care and precautions to avoid infections among its personnel, the possibility for its personnel to get infected was high due to the PCG’s presence in numerous fronts against Covid-19. Out of the 16,912 PCG personnel, 1,776 are commissioned officers.

“Maingat naman tayo. Lahat ng personnel natin sumusunod sa health protocols at laging naka-PPE [personal protective equipment]. Hindi lang talaga maiwasan ang exposure dahil nasa front line tayo (We were cautious. All of our personnel followed health protocols and were wearing PPEs. But exposure is unavoidable because we’re working in the front lines),” Balilo said.

While most of those infected are asymptomatic, he said two are in critical condition while the rest are recuperating at designated quarantine facilities for front line workers.

“Malalakas ang katawan ng tropa, kaya karamihan sa mga nag-positive, asymptomatic. Pero hindi po tayo nagpapakampatante (Our troops are strong, so most of those infected are asymptomatic. But we’re not going to get reckless),” Balilo said.
He said the health and welfare of PCG personnel continue to be the priority of PCG Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia, Jr., with support from DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“Kami ay nanalangin na tayo ay ingatan at hindi na madagdagan pa yung mga nahahawa para patuloy tayong makapaglingkod sa bayan (We’re praying that we’ll be blessed and that the number of infected will not increase further so we can continue serving),” Balilo said.

Currently, he said the PCG is bolstering its ranks and has recruited more health practitioners—most of whom were recent graduates.

“Naka-standby sila kung kakailanganin ng dagdag na manpower para tuluy-tuloy ang ating serbisyo sa kasagsagan ng pandemiya (They are on standby, so, if we’re going to need more manpower, we can continue our service in the midst of the pandemic),” Balilo said.*