By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least 144 job order (JO) employees of the San Carlos City government underwent surveillance testing using rapid antibody tests starting yesterday at the City’s Swab Testing Area in Barangay Rizal.

Dr. Jessa Tiapon, EOC’s Health Cluster leader, said the local government prioritized barangays II, III, VI, Rizal, and Punao for now and will add barangays I, V and Palampas as to the availability of test kits.

She added that results will be obtained within the day and if the rapid antibody test result will be positive, the individual will then proceed to swab testing.

The said move to have the JOs undergo testing was mandated through the Memorandum Circular No. 01 series of 2021 issued by Mayor Renato Gustilo to ensure the safety of employees inside the various local departments.

The memo stated that only JOs who live in high-risk areas (HRAs) and were properly identified and recommended by the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) through the Data Management Cluster shall be tested.

Furthermore, non-cooperation shall be dealt with accordingly pursuant to RA No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and/or revocation of the job order./DGB, WDJ