Quezon City COVID-19 cases down – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 situation in Quezon City has further improved, with the average number of new cases already close to last year’s figures, the OCTA Research Group reported yesterday.

OCTA said the average number of new COVID cases in the city dropped from over 1,100 per day during the peak of the surge last September to only 104 cases from Nov. 2 to 8.

The number inched closer to less than 100 COVID cases recorded daily during the same period last year.

The reproduction rate, which measures the number of individuals that a COVID-positive person can infect, also dropped to 0.38 from 0.77 in 2020.

“We are very happy about this report. These numbers prove how well the city government has focused on COVID-19 response throughout this pandemic,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“Even though there are surges, like in the rest of the country, the city government has managed the virus transmission to be able to decrease the number of cases,” Belmonte added.

OCTA earlier classified Quezon City as low risk for COVID-19 along with other local government units in Metro Manila.

Belmonte said the city government would continue to implement health protocols to further decrease COVID-19 cases and mitigate possible transmission due to the reopening of more business establishments.

“We remind every QCitizen to still practice basic health protocols, especially minors who are now allowed to go out. While many are already protected by the vaccine, we can still get infected,” she said.

She also acknowledged the support and sacrifices of frontliners in the fight against the pandemic.

“This is a result of the combined hard work of our health workers, volunteers, city hall employees and the cooperation of our QCitizens. Without the support of all stakeholders, we would not have achieved this low risk classification,” Belmonte said.

12-story housing project

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government will construct a 12-story socialized housing that is expected to benefit hundreds of poor families.

Belmonte led the groundbreaking of the housing project, which will have over 200 units, in Barangay Balingasa last Friday.

She also led local officials in the inauguration, blessing and turnover of a three-story housing project in the same barangay.

“For me, everyone should have access to decent and affordable homes,” Belmonte said in Filipino. “This is my commitment to those living in Quezon City – affordable housing.”

Ramon Asprer, head of the city Housing and Community Development and Resettlement Department, said they are working on altering the original three-story design of socialized housing projects into 12 floors to accommodate more beneficiaries.

The local government has targeted to provide socialized housing to some 17,000 indigent families.

Also last week, Belmonte held a dialogue with residents in Barangay Batasan Hills, who want to be part of the direct sale housing program.

Since 2019, the local government has purchased parcels of land in different barangays as part of Belmonte’s commitment to provide housing for the poor.

Aside from housing projects, Belmonte also inaugurated the five-story action center in the city’s 4th District.

She also led the groundbreaking of the new Kamuning public market in the same district.

The city government has started the construction of the evacuation center and an emergency healthcare facility in the city’s 2nd District.

The evacuation site will have its own command center, sleeping quarters, showers and toilets. The emergency healthcare facility will be used as a permanent isolation center for residents infected with COVID-19.

“Our vision is to provide quality service to our constituents and to decentralize these services to increase efficiency and reduce inconvenience,” Belmonte said.

“These action offices will accelerate the provision of essential services for our QCitizens,” she added.