CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon is asking Mayor Edgardlo Labella to study the possibility of suspending the implementation of the “Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) Pass Policy."
Dizon said the policy has created chaos and confusion instead of putting things in order. Quoting health agencies, Dizon said the pass itself can be another channel of transmission as the COVID-19 virus can survive on cardboards for 24 hours.
"A quarantine pass will only increase person-to-person contact and waiting times, which will defeat the purpose of the enhanced community quarantine. ECQ is already in place, thus, we will only allow our residents to leave their homes for work, medical purposes, or to purchase food and supplies," Dizon.
"What’s the point of having quarantine passes when we are already under an Enhanced Community Quarantine? In addition, we are supposed to strictly implement a TOUCH-ME-NOT policy," he added.
Dizon cited a photo where a Philippine National Police (PNP) member manning the Carbon Public Market checkpoint is holding and touching the ID of a person.
"This is a serious loophole in our safety measures because we are exposing our policemen and people to the deadly virus. What if a policeman touches the quarantine pass of a person infected by COVID, then, he would likely get infected and would also infect other person whose quarantine pass he would check and touch," he said.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the virus that causes COVID-19 is stable up to 24 hours on cardboard.
"There are local government units in Metro Manila and in Mindanao not providing their residents with a quarantine pass. Even Mayor Sara Duterte suspended the issuance of quarantine passes in Davao City because it only creates chaos and confusion," Dizon said.
Aid
Meanwhile, Dizon requested the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) to submit to the City Council a status report on the number of affected Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Cebu City and the specific assistance that DMDP plans to provide to the OFWs.
He also requested the Office of the Mayor in partnership with the private sector to expedite the temporary shelter assistance to health workers who cannot go home after their hospital duty.
The City Council approved Dizon's resolutions through corollary motions during its first online session on April 1.
The city was placed under a state of ECQ to intensify measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. This was effective midday March 28 and will run until midday on April 28 “or unless sooner lifted or withdrawn.”
The declaration means strict home quarantine in all households, transportation suspended, provision for food and essential services regulated, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures.
In connection to the declaration, Mayor Edgardo Labella issued an executive order on March 27 regulating the movement of persons in the city during the ECQ period and its provided guidelines.
As the city is under a state of ECQ, there is a necessity for the city government to issue ECQ passes to strictly regulate the number of individuals who leave their homes to buy essential goods as well as the number of individuals who go in and out of the city.
The people required to secure ECQ passes include one member per household for city residents; non-residents who are qualified to enter and exit the city who are not exempted under EO 64; residents who are qualified and need to exit and enter the city, unless exempted under EO 64; and all other persons as determined by the city government to secure an ECQ pass. JMO (FREEMAN)