Las Piñas to declare state of calamity due to COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Las Piñas is set to declare a state of calamity tomorrow due to the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Imelda Aguilar said yesterday.

The guidelines for the declaration will be tackled during a special session of the city council tomorrow, she added.

Aguilar said the city council will also discuss a proposed curfew for Las Piñas, as recommended by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) yesterday.

Declaring a state of calamity would grant the city, which has one confirmed COVID-19 case, access to calamity funds.

Aguilar said the city council’s approval is needed to declare a state of calamity.

Metro Manila events cancelled

The city governments of Metro Manila cancelled their scheduled events as the whole metropolis is placed on quarantine due to COVID-19.

According to the Manila city government, the following events are postponed while authorities prepare for the quarantine - “Diwa ng Bahaghari,” a sexual orientation and gender identity seminar workshop scheduled on March 14; the premier of the Philippine Education Theater Association’s “Under My Skin” on March 19; HIV testing and seminar on March 27; the “Viva Manila Concert,” a rock n’ roll international marathon on March 31; a Sogie seminar workshop on April 3 to 4; and the Manila Summer Pride on April 19.

The Lenten senakulo on April 6 and the Earth Day 2020 celebration in Manila on April 22 are also cancelled, the city hall announced.

The scheduled events of the Department of Tourism in Manila were postponed in lieu of an executive order signed by Mayor Isko Moreno banning public events or mass gatherings drawing more than 100 people to stop the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Valenzuela City government announced yesterday that all trips from Valenzuela to outside Metro Manila originating from the Valenzuela Gateway Complex Terminal are suspended starting today.

Masses in Catholic churches in Valenzuela were cancelled starting yesterday, the city hall said, according to Malolos, Bulacan Bishop Dennis Villarojo.

The Valenzuela City government earlier enacted an ordinance prohibiting the hoarding of goods in the city.

In Caloocan, Mayor Oscar Malapitan said he has ordered the misting and disinfecting of public places in the city after a Caloocan resident tested positive for the coronavirus.

Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta took to Facebook to remind his constituents to always bring their company identification cards and certificates of employment if they would like to cross the borders on their way to work outside Metro Manila.

Business owners are also required to bring their business registrations or proof of business when going out of the metropolis, Oreta said.

Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano ordered yesterday the temporary closure of all barangay covered courts to curb the spread of the virus.

Clubs and bars in the city have also closed voluntarily, he added.

Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez formed team to monitor the prices of basic goods and medical supplies.

The team will be composed of representatives from the city government’s welfare and business permit and licensing offices, the city’s barangay captains and police block commanders.

The Pasay City government will continue its five-day workweek to ensure regular services, Mayor Emi Rubiano said yesterday.

Pasay will also comply with the MMC’s recommendation of a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to chief information officer Jun Burgos.

He said the city council will discuss an ordinance to enforce the curfew next week.