Even during general community quarantine: Strict policies continue in city

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities in Cebu City will continue to enforce strict regulations to ensure the coronavirus will not infect more people, especially now that the city has returned to general community quarantine.

This developed as heavy traffic was observed in the city’s streets yesterday, Monday, the third day back to GCQ, something that authorities attributed to more workers going out as more establishments reopen with the police still enforcing strict control in the streets, especially at checkpoints.

"Nanagan na ang atoang uban nga mga private nga sakyanan ug atoang public transport, so far mga bus and taxi nanagan nasad. Mao na nga huot najud ang atong mga kadalanan," said Alma Fe Casimero, head of the city’s transportation office.

(More private vehicles are now travelling, including buses and taxicabs, which is why traffic is heavier.)

Cebu City Police Director Josefino Ligan also said:

“Upon the declaration of the general community quarantine risk classification of Cebu City, some of the establishments are opening up and the employees of these establishments are now allowed to go inside Cebu City. These employees have their own transportation so expect the (traffic) in Cebu City will be very heavy.”

Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the National Capital Region should be a cautionary tale – that a resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases can bring local governments back to stricter quarantine regulations. In the case of NCR and neighboring provinces, modified enhanced community quarantine.

He said there must be an “iron first” enforcement of regulations in Cebu City.

In a press conference yesterday, Mayor Edgardo Labella reminded the public that Cebu City will take it slowly but surely this time around – taking the lessons in May when the city was placed under GCQ but had to be put back under ECQ in June owing to the rise in cases.

"Atong obserbahan ang demeanor, ang attitude, ang body language sa atong mga kaigsuonan. Kon magpakita gani nga disiplinado, magpakita gani nga ni-comply sa mga minimum health protocols, tingali atong i-relax og dyutay. Pero sa pagkakaron, kay gitagaan man ang local government unit with that prerogative, ato nang buhaton kay kinahanglan gyud nga ipatunhay nato nga ang atong mga minimum health protocols ma-observe para, simbako lang, di gyud ta makabalik ngadto sa ECQ or MECQ," Labella said.

(We will observer the demeanor, the attitude, and the body language of our residents. If they show that they can be disciplined and that they can comply with minimum health protocols, maybe we can relax regulations. For now, since it is the prerogative of the local government, we have to keep regulations in place so that we won’t slide back to ECQ or MECQ.)

Labella said that for now, only 30 percent of the total taxi population in the city are allowed to operate, 20 buses, and 20 V-hires.

"Dili nato palabihan og daghan una. Slowly but surely, anam-anam," Labella said.

(Let’s not go all out for now. Let’s do this slowly but surely, step by step.)

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro also asked residents to remain at home if they don’t have anything important to do outside.

“That’s why we are asking the people if they don’t have anything to do outside of your house, going to whatever you want to do, just stay home nalang para dili ta mag-add sa (complications) sa traffic and so that we can help those who want to really (re)build the economy of Cebu,” Ferro said.

The good news, so far, is that those going out are observing minimum health protocols like wearing of mask and social distancing, Ferro said.

Regulations

Labella said the city still requires the use of QR-codes quarantine passes to divide the volume of people going outside their residence.

Starting August 9, 2020, however, residents with passes will be allowed to go out on Sundays, and the odd or even number scheme will no longer be enforced.

On weekdays, the number coding of quarantine passes still applies where codes ending with odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are allowed to go out during Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while those ending with even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 0) can go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Authorized persons outside residence (APOR) are exempted from this requirement.

Casimero said as of yesterday, there are still existing road closures. Railings and 'No Entry' signs are not yet pulled out.

She said the road closures will be ended once she receives the instruction from the city government.

Aside from the quarantine control points at the city’s borders, there are at least 11 intersections that remain closed.

"Di nato kalimtan nga naa ta sa GCQ status. Kinahanglan usab ang pag-wear og face mask, gloves. There should be social distancing. Kung pilay atoang load sa mga sakyanan, dapat 50 percent lang gyud ang pwede nato nga ma-load," Casimero said.

(Let us not forget that we are still on GCQ status. We have to wear a face mask, gloves. There should be social distancing. The people in our vehicles must only be 50 percent of the usual load.)

Ligan also said the police will continue to check vehicles to make sure only those allowed to travel and with proper documents are in the streets.

Close Carbon Market

Meanwhile, to avoid huge crowds converging, Rama suggested closing the Carbon Market in the meantime.

He suggested that the city open clustered markets instead.

“Sirad-an na lang sa na nato ng Carbon, karon lang gung panahuna, kaysa anang mag-base ta’s family names… dili na maoy sulbad. Ato na lang nang dalhon ang Carbon sa mga barangays, i-cluster na niya,” Rama said.

(Let’s close the Carbon Market for now… we can bring it to the barangays; we can have clustered areas.)

Images of Cebu City residents trooping to the Carbon Market during Holy Week went viral on social media. At that point, the city was still under ECQ.

Awareness

Rama also pointed out that residents still need to be educated further about COVID-19 even five months since the city started adopting quarantine regulations.

He said he has asked City Administrator Floro Casas, Jr. to purchase a sound system that the city can use to disseminate COVID-19 information in barangays.

Rama said he supports the suggestion of Councilor Jun Alcover for the city to have a dedicated radio station, if not air time, for information dissemination, to reach a wider audience, especially the masses. — JMO (FREEMAN)