DAVAO CITY — Mayor Sara Duterte on Thursday ordered the temporary closure of virtually all business establishments in the city as part of strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here.
The mayor issued two Executive Orders on Thursday, one ordering malls and mixed use buildings to close their shops at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday (March 19) and the other ordering gaming stations, spas, and other such establishments at 5 p.m. on the same day until after the State of Public Health Emergency issued by President Rodrigo Duterte last week is lifted.
Aside from the President’s proclamation, the mayor cited the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of a pandemic worldwide and the need for people to stay in their houses “to arrest the spread of infection.”
She also said because people “continue to go out and conduct non-essential activities… there is a need to close down establishments to control the activities of the people.”
EO 16 specifies that all malls and mixed-use buildings are to close all shops except for the following: supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, mall in-house department stores, medical laboratories, and doctors’ and dentists’ offices.
LAST FLIGHT. Workers take advantage to clean the departure area hours before the last flight was scheduled to leave the Davao International Airport on March 18, 2020. Davao City has ordered the cancellation of all domestic and international flights in the city starting March 19 as part of the efforts to help contain the spread of COVID-19. MANMAN DEJETO / MINDANEWS
EO 15, meanwhile, orders the temporary closure of internet shops, gaming stations, billiard halls, videokes, basketball courts, badminton courts, bowling alleys, movie houses, bingo outlets, e-gaming establishments, lotto outlets, kids’ playrooms, video arcades, spas, massage parlors, beauty salons/parlors, and carnivals or perhayan.
In a radio interview on Thursday afternoon, the mayor told the people not to be scared by the strict measures being implemented.
“Do not panic,” she said, adding the city decided to implement the measures even before a positive COVID-19 case is identified in order to manage the situation better.
She said because the current measures are already strict, not much will change when the city finds its first case of COVID-19.
The mayor advised the people to stay inside their homes, maintain social distancing, and wash their hands frequently.
SOCIAL DISTANCE. A huge sign along Davao City’s Diversion Road reminds the public to maintain a two-meter distance under the city’s community quarantine guidelines for COVID-19. MANMAN DEJETO / MINDANEWS
Regional lockdown
As Region 11 imposed a 14-day regionwide lockdown on Thursday, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will be manning the 18 entry and exit points in the city.
DCPO spokesperson Captain Rose Aguilar told the Mirror that all police stations in the city have been tasked to man the control points to prevent the movement of the public to safeguard the health of those in the city as well as neighboring provinces in Davao Region.
Aguilar said the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other law enforcement units will ensure effective and orderly implementation of the guidelines set by the Davao Regional COVID-19 Task Force.
She said workers from different provinces within Davao Region will be allowed to enter the city provided they have an identification card to prove their place of work.
Also allowed to enter the city are people who will buy food and medicines and go to hospitals. Cargoes are also allowed to enter.
Aguilar, however, said they will still undergo quarantine protocols before they are be allowed to enter the city.
Under the unified approach to the threat of COVID-19 , people may leave Davao Region but will not be allowed to return for 14 days.
Mayor Sara had earlier said the people in Davao Region can go around freely, but they can only go to other cities for work purposes.
“If you are working outside Davao Region, it is better if you will stay there until the lifting of the lockdown and vice versa,” she said.
March 19, 2020 – Thursday 6:03 PM by
FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA, RUTH PALO
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