48-hour ‘hard lockdown’ in Tondo 1 starts Sunday

NEXT IN LINE Residents of Happyland in Tondo, Manila, will be among those restricted to their houses when the densely populated district is placed on lockdown for 48 hours starting Sunday
morning. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Starting at 5 a.m. Sunday, Manila’s most densely populated district—Tondo 1—will be placed on a 48-hour “hard lockdown” to allow targeted mass testing and contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The first district has recorded the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in the city after Sampaloc which was the first to be placed on hard lockdown last week.

Of the 518 confirmed coronavirus cases in Manila, Sampaloc accounted for 106, followed by Tondo 1 with 83, based on data from the city’s public information office.

On Thursday, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso signed the executive order placing Tondo 1 or the city’s first district on hard lockdown from 5 a.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

During the 48-hour period, the city government would conduct “disease surveillance, verification or testing and rapid risk assessment” of selected residents.

Under Executive Order No. 22, everyone in Tondo 1 would be barred from leaving their houses except for residents with medical emergencies, medical and nonmedical front-liners and employees of essential services like funeral homes, pharmacies, utility and sanitation companies. Also exempted are workers of critical transport firms like port employees or those delivering essential goods.

The Manila International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Harbor Center Port Terminal are found in the district. The pier is [also] very vital for Metro Manila and … [the] harbor center should continue to operate at a normal pace,” Domagoso said in an earlier briefing.

On the other hand, traders in the Divisoria area will be allowed to do business during the lockdown but only during a certain time and in the area to be determined by the city government.

All other commercial, retail and industrial establishments not included in list of exempted businesses should remain closed during the 48-hour period. Nonresidents would be allowed to pass through Tondo 1 as long as they were among persons authorized to leave their residences.

“Performance of essential services within the said locality by nonresidents of District 1 of Tondo, Manila, such as delivery of food as well as maintenance and repair of electric, telecommunications, water, sanitation and transport facilities may be allowed,” Domagoso said in his executive order.

Manila policemen, particularly those in the first district, will be in charge of enforcing the lockdown.