MAYOR STOPS QUARANTINE PASSES

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said barangays should wait for the local government’s instructions to avoid chaos and confusion Some barangays in the city have been distributing quarantine passes to limit the movement of the people while communit

THE Davao City government issued a cease and desist order to all barangay officals from issuing quarantine passes as it starts to draw confusion among Dabawenyos and social distancing protocols have been compromised.

In a statement issued yesterday morning, March 25, the City Government of Davao advised the village chiefs to stop the giving of these passes while waiting for clear guidelines from the local government unit.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in a radio interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio yesterday, March 25, said she halted the issuance of the passes since the city is not yet under enhanced community quarantine.

“Nakit-an man gud nako nga initially OK siya kung within the barangay ka lang. Ideal gyud siya. Pero when you go out sa barangay, dili na siya mahimong possible because dili unified ilahang guidelines. Managlahing kapitan, lahi pud ang ilang guidelines (Initially, it was OK if the passes would be within the barangays. However, it is no longer ideal when you go out of the barangay since other barangays have different guidelines),” Duterte-Carpio said.

She said that passes are only issued when there is a “lockdown”. Based from the issued national guidelines on the enhanced quarantine, this means all work in public and private are suspended and shifted to “work from home” except for essential workforce such as police and medical personnel; all mass transportation are suspended; and all establishments are closed except for food and health.

She added other barangays have also been issuing different passes such as food pass, work pass, and all other passes, which led her to issue the suspension of giving passes to their constituents.

Although she said she appreciates the efforts of the barangay officials in their initiative to ensure that all of the city mandates are strictly implemented within their respective barangays, however, the mayor said they should wait for the local government’s instructions to avoid chaos and confusion.

Some barangays in the city have been distributing quarantine passes to limit the movement of the people while community quarantine is still in effect. People have been advised to stay in their respective homes to prevent transmission of the coronavirus disease.

People may only come out from their houses if they are going to work, buy food or medicines, go to the hospital or take out the garbage.

However, some residents who have not gotten their own quarantine passes start to worry. They worry that they cannot go out if they do not have the pass.

According to Grace Flores, a resident of Sunrise, Barangay Panacan, Davao City as of yesterday, they did not receive passes yet. She worried that she will not be allowed to go out.

“Daghan kaayo mi naghulat dri mahatagan ug quarantine pass asa naman ang mag panon sa una mangumpanya karun kay dugay kaayo ang aksiyon bahala wa koy madawat na rasyon importante maka gawas makapalit ug kailanganon sa gawas (We have been waiting to receive quarantine passes. Where are the people during the election campaign? Act faster. I don’t care if I cannot get the ration as long as I can get out and buy our necessities),” she said.

Also, a certain Pedro Tumbi posted a video yesterday on the system of quarantine passes distribution in a barangay in Toril that clearly did not observe social distancing. Residents in the barangay start to flock in the hope that they can get their pass.

Tumbi recommended that it should have been done house to house to avoid commotion, which would only put people at risk in contracting the virus.

Some netizens also reported that Barangay Agdao officials are charging P50 for the passes.

There were also netizens who posted on their social media accounts that some are only prioritizing voters.

Meanwhile, Barangay Tibungco Barangay Captain Merjade Calvo told Sunstar Davao that her barangay will abide by the mayor’s mandate.

Prior to the suspension of the passes, Calvo said they noted a significant reduction of people roaming around in their barangay.

It also lessens the number of violators. There are designated purok leaders who ensure that people will only go out of their house for necessary purposes.

“Sa atong gi issue nga Home Quarantine Pass, atong nakita ug na appreciate ang support and participation sa katawhan (When we issued the passes, we saw the support and participation of our constituents),” she said.

Despite the suspension, she reiterated her call to her constituents to follow the guidelines set by the city government. These are only meant to ensure their protection from the pandemic that threatens public health.