Rules still in place during GCQ

CEBU, Philippines —  As border control ease down as the whole of Cebu Island is now under general community quarantine, the police ask the public to be patient as security measures like checkpoints will continue even during the GCQ period.

Cebu City and Mandaue City graduate from enhanced community quarantine today to join the rest of Central Visayas in the GCQ classification until June 15, 2020.

"Ang atoang security coverage sa mga quarantine control points will still be there. We will be emphasizing more kining diri sa may SRP, kaning Talisay to Cebu City, Mandaue to Cebu City also," said Cebu City Police Director Josefino Ligan.

Ligan also reminds the public that leisure activities remain prohibited under the GCQ.

"Alang sa mga taga Sugboanon, mo-transition na ta sa GCQ, dili buot pasabot nga libre na ang mga Sugboanon sa paglakaw-lakaw… naa gihapon mga protocols nga gipangsunod para dili mukuyanap ang nga virus – naa ang pagsuot sa face mask, physical distancing – katong mga tawo nga wala man lang gihapon tumong ug katuyoan nga importante, magpabilin sulod sa balay, stay at home gihapon, kay atoa gihapon ni bantayan nga dili mo kuyanap ning virus," said Cebu City Police Director Josefino Ligan.

(To all Cebuanos, transitioning to GCQ doesn’t mean we are free to go wherever we weant… there are still protocols that need to be followed to prevent the further spread of the virus like wearing of face mask and social distancing. Those who don’t have anything important to do outside should stay at home because our goal here is really to stop the spread of the virus.)

"So kanang muingon nga muadto mi og dagat kay mangaligo, bawal pa na… mag suroy-suroy ta ba, so i-check ra gihapon na sa mga police," Ligan said further.

(The police will continue to check those passing the checkpoints because leisure trips are not allowed still like going to beaches for excursions.)

In Cebu Province, for example, residents are allowed to take a dip at sea as part of a health regimen to boost immunity, but only in their LGUs as they are not allowed to cross borders.

(Our security coverage at quarantine control points will still be there. We will be emphasizing more the checkpoints at the (SRP) South Road Properties, from Talisay City to Cebu City and from Mandaue City to Cebu City.)

Department of Health (DOH) - 7 Director Jaime Bernadas, for his part, said the public should not be afraid of the transition to GCQ but should not be complacent at the same time.

“Dili gyud nato na siya angay kabalak-an pero dili gihapon ta angay mu-kumpyansa. At the same time, ang ato gihapong mga manner of isolation, social distance, wearing of mask, gamit ug alcohol, and ang atong personal hygine, padayunon gihapon nato kay bisan pag nibalhin na tas GCQ, dili na mu-mean na ato nang i-loosen atong guard. Magpadayon gihapon ta’s atong measures nga containment,” Bernadas said.

(We should not be worried but we should not be complacent. We should continue our manner of isolation, social distance, wearing of mask, using of alcohol, and personal hygiene because moving to GCQ does not mean we lower our guard down. Our measures of containment will continue.)

Movement                    

During a meeting with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and mayors in Cebu Province on Friday, it was agreed that the province will ease its border controls down now that all local government units in Cebu Island are under GCQ

Sugbo News, the official news outlet of the Capitol PIO, reported that residents of the province who work in Cebu City may be able to travel from their hometown to their workplace starting June 3.

At checkpoints, workers only need to present their identification cards from their companies and a certification, also from the company, that they have resumed operation.

In Cebu City, employees reporting for work in offices and industries that are allowed to open would only need to present their company ID and certificate of employment at checkpoints.

Residents, however, would still need the quarantine pass when going out to buy essential goods and services. Those below 21 years old and above 60 years old are still covered by a curfew under GCQ.

Ligan also said that critical zones like areas that were placed on lockdown for having high prevalence of COVID-19 cases will remain guarded.

He said previously direct turnover of food donations to those living in areas on lockdown is prohibited. Donations will have to be turned over to the barangay or the emergency response center.

“Although mag transition na ta but it does not mean nga we will lower down our guard... GCQ is a welcome development to pump back our economy but we have to balance and observe health protocols," Ligan said.

(Transitioning doesn’t mean that we will lower our guard down. GCQ is a welcome development to pump back our economy but we have to balance and observe health protocols.)

Stranded Individuals

Meanwhile, local government units will be submitting a list of stranded individuals in their respective areas to the secretariat of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines- Cebu on June 5.

This is so stranded residents may be assisted by their home LGUs in their return home beginning on June 12.

Province Appeal

At the Capitol during the meeting with mayors, Garcia announced that Cebu Province will ask IATF to allow the province to transition to modified GCQ so that it can put its economy back on its feet.

Being under MGCQ means leisure and tourism activities, albeit with limitations, are allowed. These are prohibited under GCQ.

"We should move on to the next level or even beyond that because we are ready for that," Garcia has said.  JMO (FREEMAN)