Barangay Poblacion of Mariveles town in Bataan province barricaded its streets and enforced entry restrictions following news that positive coronavirus patients from other areas were being transferred to the Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital (MMWGH) on orders of the Department of Health (DOH).
The barangay chairman, Francisco P. Delos Reyes Jr., posted on Facebook confirming reports that the Mariveles mental hospital had been designated to house Covid-19 patients.
Delos Reyes said the barangay had no awareness of the plan and there was no coordination from the national government.
He said the barangay leaders decided to enforce “restrictive entry” to the barangay beginning March 27.
“Effective immediately at hanggang hindi natin alam ang susunod na hakbanging ng ating Municipal Health Office (MHO) at Pamahalaang Bayan ng Mariveles, tayo po ay nagdedeklara ng RESTRICTIVE ENTRY SA BARANGAY POBLACION PO STARTING 12:01AM ngayong araw, ikaw-27 ng Marso, 2020,” he said.
“Alam ko po na ito ay mahirap sa atin, ngunit makakaasa po kayo na hindi po kayo papabayaan ng Pamunuang Barangay lalong lalo na po ang Pamahalaang Bayan ng Mariveles,” Delos Reyes said.
But in a subsequent post, the barangay said the barricades were not meant to “lock in” healthcare workers in MMWGH.
“JUST TO CLARIFY PO: Ang mga barika po natin ay hindi para “ikulong” po sa MMWGH ang mga Frontliners. Ang mga barikada po ay para ilockdown po ang buong Monroe Street para sa DISINFECTION po ng daan bukas,” the barangay said on its Facebook page.
“Hindi din po namin pinapalabas ang mga tao lalo na po yung malapit sa Monroe hanggang sa matapos po ang disinfection. Kanina po, nakipag usap na po sa amin ang isang officer po ng MMWGH at nagbigay po sila sa amin ng assurance na lahat po ng kanilang nurses at doctors na tumitingin po sa mga positive Covid-19 patients ay under quarantine,” it said.
“Bukas po, may meeting din po tayo kasama ang Pamahalaang Bayan ng Mariveles, MHO at ang Council po ng MMWGH,” it added.
In his earlier post, Delos Reyes said he was saddened by the reports that the hospital was now a Covid-19 facility.
“Kanina pong hapon, dumating ang dalawang ambulansya na galing sa ibang probinsya, pinasundan po namin ito sa mga tanod, at nakita na mga naka – PPE suit ang mga bumaba dito,” he said.
“Nang marinig po natin ito, nagsagawa po tayo ng imbestigasyon ang ating mga tanod tungkol sa mga nasabing gawain sa MMWGH at ang sabi po sa amin, ang mga ito raw po ay persons under investigation (PUI) lamang. Kaya po kami din po ay nagulat ngayong gabi, na ang nasa loob po ng naturang ospital ay mga kumpirmadong COVID-19 patients,” he said.
“Gusto lamang po namin linawin, na hindi po ito alam ng Pamunuan ng Barangay Poblacion at wala pong koordinasyon na ginawa sa amin bago po ang lahat ng ito,” Delos Reyes said.
The lack of coordination with the LGU drew outrage on social media.
“Sobrang nakaka putangina na DOH put 5 NCOV positive patients sa Mariveles Mental without the LGU knowing. Sobrang SKETCHY. And to be honest, it hurts. Our frontliners & local officers are on the brink of exhaustion, the locals are abiding perfectly tapos ganon? Kaka init ng ulo,” one netizen said.
Another user, punctuating her post with a “facepalm” emoji, wrote: “So there were 5 Covid19+ patients transferred from New Clark City to Mariveles Mental Hospital without informing the Mariveles LGU beforehand. And they were saying Mariveles, Bataan is still Covid19 free just because hindi sila nag positive within Mariveles.”