Status quo for Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas get to keep their quarantine classifications for the rest of August.

In a virtual press briefer yesterday morning, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Consolacion, and Minglanilla will remain under general community quarantine until August 31.

The rest of Cebu Province and Central Visayas will remain under modified GCQ.

But Roque said localized lockdowns will be implemented if and when necessary.

“Lilinawin ko po, maski sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim na ng GCQ at pati na yung nasa ilalim ng MGCQ, magkakaron pa rin po tayo ng localized ECQ so wala po talagang katapusan ang ECQ. Ngayon, localized or granular,” Roque said.

(I want to make it clear that localized ECQ will still be implemented in areas under GCQ and MGCQ. We haven’t actually stopped enforcing an ECQ, only that, this time, it will be localized or granular.)

The National Task Force for COVID-19 emphasizes that “areas flagged for local action shall implement strict lockdown of areas in line with the zoning containment strategy, strict enforcement of minimum public health standards, and intensified tracing and quarantine of close contacts and isolation of confirmed cases.”

A granular lockdown is meant to allow containment in a specific household or sitio without having to sacrifice the rest of the barangay so that residents can return to work.

Just recently, Cebu City lifted lockdowns in Barangays Mabolo, Guadalupe, Quiot, Tisa, and Labangon, but isolation remains in place for household and even business establishments that violated protocols.

A granular lockdown can be enforced if two or more households have suspected, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases. Business establishments can be closed down for decontamination and contact tracing for 24 hours or until they are given the go signal to resume operations.

Based on data from the Department of Health as of August 14, Cebu City has 1,647 active cases, 29 of which are new.

Eight more have died from the disease but this number is a total starting from May 13 following verification. It was recorded only on August 14.

What the city wants

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella already said earlier that he would want the city to remain under GCQ for the rest of the month.

"That's also what we want to happen, that we will maintain the GCQ status," Labella reiterated yesterday.

He said there is more control in the movement of people under GCQ, as there are still some restrictions, which would make it easier for authorities to monitor the movement of residents.

Labella said strict enforcement of quarantine protocols and minimum health requirements will remain.

For one, the QR-coded quarantine passes will remain in effect.

"There are still restrictions because let us always remember that we are still on quarantine. Quarantine means stay home and we only go out if there is a need to buy essential goods, commodities, and medicines," Labella said.

"The virus is still very much around. We cannot be complacent. We cannot take things for granted," he said.

Labella urged the public to remain vigilant, observe the minimum health requirements, and always remember that the basic rule during quarantine is to stay home.

"At least, businesses are open on a regulated basis. Anam-anam lang. Hinay-hinay lang," said Labella.

"We have to take care of the gains that we have achieved. We should not jump abruptly to less control, less restriction. We should avoid nga mabalik ta sa ECQ or sa MECQ," he added.

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Cebu, said the GCQ had allowed most establishments to operate and businesses are running again, albeit slowly for now, which is good for the city.

"More than that, there is still a need for us to instill discipline among government agencies, private establishments, and the community, to adjust to the new normal. This is to also ensure our health and safety. So, I think it’s important to take things gradually because we don’t want our cases to spike once more and then we’re back to square one," Garganera said.

"Even more important that the GCQ has given us enough time to coordinate with private establishments this time. The community aspect has already been more or less addressed, now we’re coordinating with private establishments to instill COVID-19 protocols therein. Para on micro-level, safety measures will be in place and emergency response will already be readily available," he said.

Councilor Alvin Dizon echoed Garganera's sentiment.

"Despite Cebu City’s initial gains in slowly reducing its positivity rate in the past weeks, the same cannot be reason to be complacent given the unpredictable nature of the virus and the proven fact that when restrictions are being eased, there is always the risk of resurgence of cases," Dizon said.

"The virus will be with us until a cure or vaccine is discovered. We should not let our guards down. We need to continue to comply with the highest standard in precautions, especially in hygiene practices," he added.

Councilor Phillip Zafra also shared the same thought.

"We need to further instill in our minds the new normal life... the observance of basic health protocols. Kinahanglan lang gyod nga mag mas-inampingon kita kanunay kay daghan na raba kanato ang gitugutan nga makagawas sa tagsa tagsa nato ka panimalay," Zafra said.

Councilor Nestor Archival believes the wisdom of the special assessment team has merit and "I can foresee that if we continue to do what is right, following protocols, on September 1, 2020 Cebu City will be on MGCQ."

The special team Archival is referring to is the team sent to Cebu led by Secretary Roy Cimatu.

Councilor Franklyn Ong said the rest of August will allow the city to make necessary adjustments, especially that it is accepting locally stranded individuals from other local government units.

"I believe that (GCQ) is good for us, considering we are accepting a lot of arriving LSI from other cities and municipalities. The 15 days extension will give us more time to monitor and do applicable quarantine if necessary before we will be downgraded to MGCQ," Ong said.

Hall of justice rules

Meanwhile, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul said on Saturday that protocols observed at the Cebu City Hall of Justice in the past 15 days will remain until the end of August while the city is on GCQ.

For the information of the public, no one will be allowed to enter the Hall of Justice without an ID, mask, and face shield. Those authorized to enter will be required to step on the “disinfectant foot mat” at the entrance and exit, and will be subjected to no-contact thermal scanning. They will be required to observe physical distancing while inside.

All those who given permission to enter the Hall of Justice – except judges, court officials, staff and workers who have their own attendance logbooks – shall be required to fill out a logbook with relevant information for contact tracing and security purposes.

Walk-in inquiries, requests, and transactions will not be entertained. Those concerned are advised to call the hotline numbers and email addresses of courts and its offices during office hours. Those who have queries, requests and transactions shall be guided by the concerned Branch/Office on when, if necessary, can or should they go to court for the purpose.

Pleadings in criminal, civil, and other cases, applications for bail, and other court submissions, may be filed either manually or electronically. Those who will file manually should first call the Branch or Office concerned for guidance on whether they should be allowed to enter the Hall of Justice or their document/s may have to be picked-up by concerned staff.

Each calendared case will be allotted a specific time and only lawyers, parties, and the witness to be presented should be allowed entry into the Hall of Justice at the time assigned for the case.

An accused on bail need not appear in court unless required by the court to do so.

Law enforcers bringing arrested persons for the issuance of commitment order/s shall call first the concerned Branch/Office for guidance and shall be allowed entry only when permitted by such Branch/Office.

For civil weddings, only a maximum of five people, including the bride and the groom, will be allowed entry into the Hall of Justice. They shall call the Branch first of the solemnizing judge and shall be allowed entry only when allowed by the Branch.

Loitering will not be allowed at the Hall of Justice and those who have been authorized to enter will have to leave as soon as their presence is no longer required.

Vendors will also not be allowed.

There will be no court duties on Saturdays. — JMO (FREEMAN)