Rapid testing being conducted at Bongabon town plaza. FB image
BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – The construction of a telecommunication firm manned by some Chinese nationals was stopped after one of its two Filipino workers sneaked “via backdoor” into this town tested positive in a Covid-19 rapid test last week.
Mayor Allan Xyztus Gamilla said Tuesday the presence of the workers was discovered in a surprise inspection by personnel of the municipal engineering office last May 24 and were immediately subjected to rapid testing.
Investigation disclosed the two Filipino workers were brought to this municipality from San Jose City on May 23 by a car that passed through checkpoints with the use of inter-agency task force rapid pass.
“Nasita sila ng mga tao ng engineering office na nagmo-monitor doon sa mga national project na yuon po ang mandato,” Gamilla said.
This development prompted the municipal government to conduct rapid test on 40 other people believed to have been exposed to that worker on Monday.
The worker and six Chinese nationals who used to stay in a rented place as employees of the telco were evicted, it was learned.
The mayor said that rapid passes issued by IATF for people providing essential food or services might have been abused by some quarters.
The incident, meanwhile, signaled the conduct of rapid testing to members of municipal disaster risk reduction and management office and other individuals at the municipal plaza as an isolation area is being constructed.
