A 13-room modern isolation facility was inaugurated on Wednesday in Barangay Lydia, Marcos, Ilocos Norte to cater to returning residents.

Mayor Antonio Mariano said the facility housed in a newly-constructed multi-purpose building was constructed at the cost of PHP6 million sourced from the government’s Bayanihan fund with a counterpart from the municipal government’s allocation for development.

Marcos town has maintained a zero coronavirus disease (Covid-19) case status.

During a simple inauguration ceremony attended by provincial and municipal officials, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc lauded town officials led by Mariano for taking a proactive role in the construction of the multi-functional facility which can be used by its residents in times of emergency.

Equipped with beddings, toilet, built-in cabinets, tables and chairs, the isolation facility is now ready to host returning residents.

But while there are no returnees yet, Mariano said front-liners who are serving the municipality may stay there for free.

To keep up with the surge of returning residents, the governor has appealed to the different local government units to have their own quarantine facilities to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

To date, Ilocos Norte has two remaining active cases who are in isolation units while the different hospitals do not have admitted patients for Covid-19. (PNA)