ECQ extended

The Inter-Agency Task Force on the management of emerging infectious disease has heeded the call of Mandaue and Cebu City to extend their status under the enhanced community quarantine. This means that they will remain on status quo -- no public transportation, no malls, industries closed and people need to stay at home. Both cities have raised the concern that the cases of their areas for COVID-19 have continued to rise. With this granted, the other highly urbanized city of Lapu-Lapu is left under general community quarantine.

How will this affect us? For one, Lapu-Lapu City has to make it clear how they will go about workers of establishments who live in the tri-cities or other areas outside. The cities of Cebu and Mandaue should also lay down guidelines for those living in the provinces and have work in these cities. Although there will be limited movement, there may still be confusion between who can cross the border and all those questions. This would lead to complacency and chaos.

Now we see why there is a need for a lot of people to be in the cities -- because there are opportunities. These opportunities are not given from where they live. There is no development in the countryside where most of the people reside. I, for one, live in Consolacion but my workplace is in the city. Maybe our leaders could rethink business opportunities and employment when all of this is over to develop and welcome more investors in the different cities and municipalities. If people only work within their vicinity, they are helping the local economy and movement is reduced.

Now we are moving into the new normal - social distancing and proper hygiene. We are not sure yet how establishments are ready for this. We are not even sure if those in the medium enterprise can afford this. After losing so much in the lockdown, will they have buffer money to spend for precautionary measures? They must, or else their operation couldn't move on.

I'm not so sure how the extended ECQ is doing well for most of you. While we can see it from a bigger perspective, those in our homes are filled with more anxiety, I bet. It is not easy to listen to news of rising cases everyday and the area of proximity of the infection goes nearer and nearer to us. However, as we extend our ECQ, I hope that we also extend our faith in whatever high being we believe in. I guess this is the time to ask for healing not just for our province but for the whole world as well. We have been suffering way too much already, we need to get back up.

As quarantine measures are being put on place with difference from one area to the next, I hope we take extra caution in every step that we take. Remember, the enemy is invisible. Every wise move counts.