Naga placed under strict quarantine
NAGA CITY --- “All travels of persons to and from this city shall not be allowed,” a memorandum circular (MC) issued by Mayor Nelson Legacion on Monday, Mar. 16 said.
The issuance of the measure came on the same day shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine until 12 midnight of April 12. The imposition of Luzon-wide quarantine was made when the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic.
Legacion, in an earlier MC issued on Mar. 14 this year, ordered the suspension of classes in all levels of all schools in the city until further notice. The directive that took effect on Mar. 16 directed all students and educators to stay home during the period of suspension.
The government said that the country’s rising number of cases of Covid-19 and the decision of several local government units to impose community quarantine were the reasons why President Duterte decided to impose stricter quarantine measures all over Luzon.
As of 9:06 AM of Mar.18, 2020, the Philippines has so far recorded 187 cases of Covid-19, including 12 deaths, according to the Department of Health, while the worldometers.info/coronavirus/ and the World Health Organization registered 198, 229 cases, 7,965 deaths, and 81,738 patients recovered.
In this city, the prohibition on travel of persons shall end midnight of Apr.14, 2020. Law enforcement personnel tasked to implement the mayor’s order were however instructed to observe certain factors that would allow a person to be exempted from the ban.
Those exempted are: 1. Returning residents of Naga who are given until 11:59 PM, Mar. 18, 2020;
2. Persons with medical emergencies and health needs with prescriptions and/or health endorsement from competent health authorities.
3. Government officials and employees in the actual performance of duty and/or with travel/mission orders.
4. Persons carrying and/or transporting essential goods
5. All persons working in private and public establishments providing basic necessities and such activities related to food and medicine production, such as:
a. Public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores
b. Hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies, and drugstores
c. Food preparation and delivery services
d. Water-refilling stations
e. Manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines;
f. Banks, money transfer services;
g. Power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies and facilities;
6. Persons working in business process outsourcing and export-related industries;
7. Media personnel with PCOO identification card.
On Mar. 14, this year, several directives supporting the national response to COVID-19 pandemic were also issued by Legacion, like the requirements being imposed to all passengers from Metro Manila and CALABARZON to submit a duly accomplished disembarkation card once they alighted at the Bicol Central Station (BCS). BCS management shall ensure that no passenger shall exit the terminal without submitting the form.
Also included in the directive are the cancellation or postponement of several crowd-drawing events including those with prior approval from City Hall like the inter-barangay and inter-zone sports events, city commemorative events, fire-earthquake drills, barangay assemblies, Educare closing ceremonies in the city’s 27 barangays, and all other city government and barangay events.
A curfew is being implemented in this city since Mar. 15, from 9:00 PM to 5:00 PM for all persons regardless of age pursuant to City Ordinance 2020-019.
Disinfection of all public places and facilities are also being undertaken by the Naga City Incident Management Team.
DESERTED. The lobby of Bicol Central Station in Naga City that used to be one of the most crowded place in the city before the declaration of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine by President Duterte. The dreary scene has became a normal sight in other public places and facilities in the city. JASON NEOLA/REY BAYLON/CEPPIO