The long overdue accreditation of R1MC THE recent accreditation of Region1 Medical Center by the Department of Health authorized to test specimens for rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for COVID-19 using cartridges should help efforts of the provincial government to flatten the curve with certainty. For too long, hundreds of…

Tested, effective protocol SINCE Pangasinan recorded its first positive COVID-19 case in March, the campaign to defeat it has resulted so far in 33 recoveries, 17 still being treated and only 9 had died – out of 59 cases. With due diligence on the part of our provincial government, the…

Planning makes the difference WHILE we are inclined to accept the provincial government’s performance in containing the spread of COVID-19 as successful, there is no reason to be complacent and rest. As we focus on contact-tracing and watching our borders today, our provincial government should prepare for the new normal…

Keep a close, strict watch of borders THE decision of the provincial government and the Pangasinan police to maintain stricter border control in all towns bounded by provinces of La Union, Benguet Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and Zambales is definitely a step in the right direction. There is no…

Be very afraid THE decision of Governor Amado Espino III to ask for a downgrade for Pangasinan – from a ‘low-risk area’ (no quarantine) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) was both prudent and practical for the province. Indeed, to completely remove all protocols for communities will easily give the wrong…