Bacolod, Lanao Sur in strict lockdown

HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURE In this photo taken on September 6, the streets of the city of Bacolod are empty as border checkpoints were established as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. —PHOTO FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF THE BACOLOD CITY OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

For three weeks starting September 8, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental and Lanao del Sur will be under stricter quarantine measures after President Rodrigo Duterte approved Monday the recommendation of the national task force that oversees the government’s efforts to stop the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the recommendation of the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to place Bacolod and Lanao del Sur under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status was presented by the National Working Group. (NTF) against the principal implementer of COVID-19, Carlito Galvez Jr., to the president.

Roque, citing IATF Resolution No. 69, also said that inbound trips by stranded residents to Western Visayas, Iligan City and Lanao del Sur were suspended at the request of local officials. The moratorium goes into effect from September 7 to 21.

Mr. Duterte, in a previous order, also placed Iligan in Lanao del Norte under MECQ for September.

Critical locations

Gálvez said Bacolod and Lanao officials proposed a stricter community quarantine due to the continued increase in COVID-19 cases in their areas. He pointed out the need to improve the quarantine status in Lanao del Sur, as it is adjacent to Iligan, where the MECQ was imposed as of September 1.

Iligan and Lanao del Sur were immediately placed under MECQ because they are “hotspots,” he said.

“Once we are unable to control the spread of COVID-19 in Iligan City, [the virus] it can extend to Lanao del Norte, Ciudad Ozamiz and even Ciudad Cagayán de Oro. These areas need to be protected because they are our economic centers, like the city of Cagayán de Oro ”, said Gálvez.

But the cases in Bacolod, he said, were “much higher” than those in Iligan.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that new Bacolod cases rose by 462 in just four days, or an average of 135 per day.

The Health Department’s COVID-19 tracker showed that as of Monday, Bacolod had 2,224 cases, of which 1,255 were active with 939 recoveries. Forty-four new cases were registered on Monday.

Lanao del Sur registered 381 cases, 143 considered active and 227 recoveries. Only seven cases were registered in the province on Monday.

“The critic [health] The health care capacity in the city of Bacolod is becoming really critical, ”said Gálvez, adding that task force officials would go to Bacolod to“ complete interventions and accelerate efforts ”to stop the spread of COVID-19. .

Taken by surprise

The Secretary of the Environment, Roy Cimatu, and members of his team, who managed to stop the spread of the infection in Cebu City, would also join Gálvez’s group to share their experience in handling the pandemic.

But many Bacolod residents, including local officials, were caught off guard and unprepared by the national task force’s decision to place the city under the MECQ.

“Last night we slept thinking of ways to improve our businesses. We woke up to our business getting away from us, ”said Frank Carbon, executive director of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Carbon said there was no discussion about placing the entire city under MECQ, adding that the city’s economy would be significantly affected.

Confused

Everyone is confused. Ninety percent of company employees and customers depend on public transportation. Without public transportation, businesses will stall even if some are allowed to operate, ”he said.

In a video statement Monday, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he expected the matter to be discussed in a meeting with NTF officials on Wednesday.
“However, because the resolution has been issued, the only thing left to do now is implement it,” Leonardia said.

“The annoyances and adjustments will only be temporary. The important thing is that we reduce COVID-19 in Bacolod City. Let’s comply with all regulations because this is for our well-being, ”he said.

Several residents regretted the lack of notification and said they had not prepared for a three-week shutdown.

“I understand the need to contain the disease, but if those who are better off are affected, those who are already struggling in life suffer the worst,” a retiree told the Inquirer.

–Reports from Julie Aurelio, Jeannette Andrade, Nestor Burgos Jr. and Carla Gomez

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