COVID-hit power plant under lockdown

Palm Concepcion Power Corp’s (PCPC) 135-MW Power Plant in Concepcion, Iloilo is under lockdown after 10 Chinese personnel of its Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contractor were infected with COVID-19.

In a statement, PCPC confirmed that the index or first confirmed infection was detected on June 24, 2021.

“PCPC immediately coordinated with the Concepcion Municipal Government for the contact tracing and RT-PCR tests of individuals who may have been in contact with the patient. The 10 individuals who tested positive are now in the plant’s quarantine facility for medical observation,” the power firm said.

For the safety and health consideration of the employees, contractors and residents of the municipality, PCPC was assisted by the Concepcion Medical Team in the conduct of RT-PCR test for the other 96 plant personnel.

“In the meantime, in coordination with the Office of Municipal Mayor Raul N. Banias, PCPC has imposed a 2-week plant lockdown starting June 25, 2021 until July 8, 2021 to ensure that no further spread happens.”

NEPC’s Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract with PCPC will end on August 16, 2021.

Since the pandemic, PCPC said it has been mandating all its employees to observe the protocols issued by the government agencies.

“While PCPC does not wish for this incident to occur, it is doing all its best and using all available resources right now to maintain the safety of all of its employees, contractors and residents.”

PCPC said that despite the plant lockdown and work from home arrangement for the other employees, “the operation of the power plant, manned by personnel who have already been tested and with negative results, will still continue and services to its customers shall remain unhampered.”

 

MAYOR INFECTED

Meanwhile, Mayor Rema Somo of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo has tested positive for COVID-19.

The lady mayor confirmed the information in a Facebook post on Sunday.

In an interview with a local radio station, Somo revealed that her husband and son also contracted the virus.

Somo said she first experienced COVID-19 symptoms on Saturday, so she decided to undergo a rapid test the following day, which yielded a positive result.

Currently, the mayor said they are only experiencing mild symptoms as she and her husband have already been fully vaccinated. The family is also under home quarantine.

“Since I am fully vaccinated upod ang akon bana, mild lang amon nabatyagan kag subong naka-home quarantine lang kami upod sa akon bata nga lalaki. Since yesterday, ginahimo na sang aton Rural Health Unit ang massive contact tracing kag disinfection para maamligan ang tanan,” she said in her Facebook post.

The mayor admitted that she has recently adjusted her work schedule to limit her exposure but due to the nature of her work she was still infected.

Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office revealed that the town of Sta. Barbara has the most number of active cases of COVID-19 in the province as of June 26.

The town has 623 total cases with 282 active cases, 322 recoveries and 19 deaths. (ERS)