February 22, 2022
ALTHOUGH the curfew in Mandaue City and Cebu Province has been lifted already, the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7) will still strictly enforce the health protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
Brigadier General Eduardo Vega, head of PRO 7, said they respect the decisions of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to lift the curfew after lowering the entire island of Cebu and Central Visayas to alert level 2 starting on Feb. 16, 2022.
Cortes lifted the curfew on Feb. 16, while Garcia followed on Feb. 18.
Both officials pointed out that the lifting of curfew would help revive the economy.
Vega stressed that they will continue to enforce the health protocols mandated by the IATF, such as the wearing of face mask and social distancing.
He said the health protocols have greatly helped in reducing the cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Align with the Chief PNP’s directives, PRO 7 will formulate strategies and preventive mechanisms to help stem the spread of the virus. The nationwide implementation of curfew is one of the effective weapons used in the battle against Covid-19 in the region. It helps reduce the number of opportunities and activities where people gather in groups, “Vega said.
Based on Covid -19 monitoring by the Central Visayas police, PRO 7 arrested 6,657 people for violating curfew and health protocols from January 1 to February 16 this year.
The curfew has also greatly contributed to reducing crime incidents in the country, Vega added.
He thanked the police for strictly enforcing health protocols which has led to the rapid decline in Covid-19 cases. (BBT, TPT)