Labella on tourism ban: ‘No biggie’

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has no problem with Cebu province not yet allowing city residents to visit its tourism sites even if the whole Cebu island is now under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“I have no problem because in my executive order I always emphasize that when we are on quarantine, regardless of the classification, the basic requirement is for you to stay home and you are only allowed to stay out of your home to buy essential goods for your essential needs,” said Labella.

“Now, I think going to tourist destination is not an essential need of a resident of the City of Cebu,” he added.

Labella added the move of the province would really complement the Executive Order he has issued.

Even under MGCQ, the mandatory stay at home order remains in the city.

Per the Executive Order No. 89, any person below 21 years old, those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiencies, comorbidities, or other health risks, pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, shall be required to remain in their residence at all times, except when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in industries and offices or such other activities permitted under MGCQ.

“I'm reminding our people in the city to take heed of the executive order that we should stay home and then we only go out to buy the essential goods. We should not be complacent. Pirme gyud na ibalik nato. When we go out, observe the minimum health requirements because the virus is still very much around,” Labella said.

“We are in the middle of this pandemic. There is really no guarantee, but we will try to do our best that we will maintain the flattening of the curve and reduce the inconsiderable extent the number of cases,” he said.

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the city, said 38 of the 80 barangays in Cebu City have zero COVID-19 transmission yesterday, September 15, 2020.

Two barangays, Duljo Fatima and Kalunasan, were the newest addition to the list of COVID-free barangays as of yesterday.

On Monday, it was reported that 36 barangays had no virus transmission.

These are barangays Calamba, Adlaon, Agsungot, Babag, Bonbon, Budlaan, Buot, Cambinocot, Day-as, Ermita, Guba, Kinasang-an Pardo, Lusaran, Mabini, Malubog, Pamutan, Paril, Pasil, Pulang Bato, Pung-ol Sibugay, Quiot, San Antonio, San Nicolas Proper, Sto. Niño, Sawang Calero, Sinsin, Sirao, Suba, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, T. Padilla, Tabunan, Tagba-o, Taptap, Tinago, and To-ong.

“There are a lot of factors. First is there's compliance na sa health protocol nato and then ang mga barangay officials sad diha, they are also very proactive kaayo sila with regards pud sa maintenance sa atong health standards nato. Enforcement is also a key here,” said Garganera.

“We've been encouraging that nga the name of the game here is how to sustain. Sustaining, it's a different story,” he said. — JMD (FREEMAN)