In Cebu City for seniors, minors: ‘Stay at home’ order issued

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has issued a “stay at home order,” which covers senior citizens aged 65 years old and above, and minors, another precautionary measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Executive Order (EO) 059 series of 2020 states that individuals covered by the order shall not be allowed to leave their respective households otherwise exempted.

Under section 2 of EO 59, the following are exempted from the EO: elected government officials; other authorized government officials; individuals occupying key positions in private establishments; public and private medical practitioners, hospital and medical establishment workers, volunteers of emergency response units; and individuals requiring medical treatments or check-up, provided that a medical certificate shall be presented to proper authorities.

As stated in the EO, going outside for exercise is allowed and even encouraged provided that it shall only be up to the immediate vicinity of their residences.

The individuals covered are directed to maintain social distancing at all times.

Labella said this is part of the precautionary and safety measure of the City Government of Cebu against COVID-19.

For the purpose of the EO, a minor shall refer to a person below 18 years old or one who is above 18 years old but is unable to fully take care of himself or herself.

The order will be in effect until April 14, 2020 or until the State of General Community Quarantine in Cebu City is lifted or revoked, whichever is earlier.

Cebu City was placed under General Community Quarantine through EO No. 52 issued on March 15, 2020.

Labella also issued EO 60 series of 2020, on March 22, urging private and public establishments to implement work suspension for senior citizens during the general community quarantine.

EO 60 is encouraging establishments for the work suspension for Senior Citizens as they are the most vulnerable to COVID-19. When applicable, a work-from-home scheme may be adopted for these senior citizens.

Under section 2, A, employees who will be required to work from home shall be paid their corresponding salaries/wages during the period of the General Community Quarantine.

And as stated in section 2, B, employees who will not be required to report for work due to work suspension shall be paid their corresponding salaries/wages during the period of the General Community Quarantine as exception to the “no work, no pay” principle for this occasion only.

Earlier on Saturday, through EO 5-K, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also directed a 24-hour curfew on students and senior citizens in the province or those living outside Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City.

Included in the students sector are unemployed postgraduate students while health workers, hospital workers and administrative staff, medical professionals, volunteers of emergency response units, public officials and government employees are exempted from the curfew.

Also exempted are those who need to go to medical facilities with certificates of exemption from local chief executives.

Mayors are expected to check the medical certificates of those who were granted exemption.

For easier identification, residents travelling across the province are required to carry Identification Cards (ID). This will be checked by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the military assigned at checkpoints.

Enforcement

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Hector Grijaldo assured the city police force has enough personnel to patrol the city 24 hours, although the shifts of personnel may have to be adjusted.

Even prior to the issuance of the “stay at home” order, the police have already patrolled the city to implement the 8 p.m. – 5 p.m. curfew after the General Community Quarantine order was issued.

"On this time, our policemen were already in the field to check and monitor all of minors (and senior citizens) roaming around the city and to advise them to stay at home," Grijaldo said.

"We have available  personnel and we have established  already a plan in where to conduct patrols and where is the household  or mga bahay-bahay na pwede nating puntahan," Grijaldo said.

Grijaldo said they will also coordinate with barangays to gather data to determine which areas have the most number of senior citizens and minors.

He asked for the public to cooperate and to be more considerate when they are asked to return home when found in the streets.

"The PNP is your amigo cops… we are not doing this to arrest you but only to remind people to be considerate," he said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Director Roderick Mariano said he also ordered his men to go around the city to disseminate the information.

"Ngayon pa lang, umiikot sila ngayon para sabihan yung mga barangay, yung mga tao na we will strictly implement ating 24-hour curfew doon sa mga estudyante at senior citizens," Mariano said.

He said CPPO will maximize the deployment of policemen as it is on full alert status.  JMO (FREEMAN)