BY JEFFREY DAMICOG
*
The offices of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIAFAT) at the airport terminals in Pasay City have been locked down after four personnel tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Department of Justice (DoJ) Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, IACAT undersecretary-in-charge, said in her order issued on July 7 that the IACAT and NAIAFAT offices located at NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 be placed “on a strict 14-day lockdown beginning on 8 July 2020 to 22 July 2020.”
“During the temporary closure, all personnel and the general are hereby prohibited from entering the said premises in order to prevent the further spread of the disease,” read her order.
The undersecretary explained the move was made after four NAIAFAT personnel tested positive for COVID-19 in the confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted by the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) last July 2.
“All NAIAFAT personnel, including those eighteen personnel who underwent PCR Swab Test in PGH last 2 July 2020 are hereby ordered to undergo strict self-quarantine measures for fourteen days and to observe for any health symptoms,” Villar also instructed.
“Likewise, during the 14-day lockdown period, all existing work assignments shall be, as far as practicable, done from their respective homes where everyone is expected to be on call for urgent matters or concerns,” she added.
The undersecretary said the IACAT and NAIAFAT offices will “undergo immediate disinfection and cleansing procedures during the 14-day period as a preventive measure.”
