With or without ECQ, let’s share the burden

Many are hoping, including the Cebu City officials, that the 15-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which was enforced in the city by the IATF to end yesterday, would not be extended. The Department of Health (DOH) 7 has recommended that Cebu City be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with the colatilla to put barangays with many cases under sequential lockdowns.

Under ECQ, the city’s economy slows down since thousands of people are now jobless. But the city or the national leadership could not place in jeopardy the health and safety of the residents against the virus over the city’s economy.

Ret. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, emphasized the need to continue the ECQ for Cebu City because the Covid-19 cases has not waned. While Galvez said he did not want to preempt President Rodrigo Duterte, he already voiced his view.

Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella had resigned himself to the fact that the virus spread could not be prevented unless the city is still under ECQ after June 30 to strictly enforce the quarantine and health protocols. The Cebu City Council, under Vice Mayor Mike Rama’s watch, should pass an ordinance that provides fine and imprisonment for those who violate the quarantine and health protocols.

The President was expected to announce yesterday afternoon or during his late evening media briefing on Cebu City’s status. Without preempting the President’s declaration, the city’s status could be downgraded to modified ECQ and apply the sequential lockdowns as recommended by DOH 7 and without let up in the strict enforcement of protocols.Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu, who President Duterte sent to Cebu, already identified the 12 city barangays that have the highest number of Covid-19 cases. They are now under lockdown. Following this procedure, the barangays with plenty of positives would be secluded.

We are agreed that enforcement of laws, especially during the pandemic, falls heavily on the executive department through its enforcement agencies. But let’s not forget to also share in the burden of complying with the laws and protocols.

There are four things that the DOH wants us to comply: Stay at home unless it’s necessary to obtain the basic necessities; observe physical distancing; wear face mask; and always wash our hands with soap or apply alcohol. And, why is it that many cannot follow these simple health protocols? Because as the President said, “mga gahi ta’g ulo” (we’re hard headed).

Cimatu, after identifying the 12 barangays with high cases, ordered their lockdown. But last Sunday, there was street dancing in Sitio Alumnus, Barangay Basak-San Nicolas. Some 53 illegal gamblers (tigbakay) were arrested in Tabogon, Cebu on Saturday and there was a report that somewhere in Bacayan, Cebu City, a disco was held on Saturday night. Another group of illegal gamblers (tigbakay) were apprehended in Mandaue City. The IATF should throw the book at the violators to let them know that government is serious in its campaign against the virus.

The Cebu City Council, under Vice Mayor Mike Rama’s watch, should pass an ordinance that provides fine and imprisonment for those who violate the quarantine and health protocols in this pandemic.