25 Agusan del Sur villages on lockdown amid surge in COVID-19 cases

A village watchman controls the entry of people into a purok in Barangay Patin-ay, Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur where a granular lockdown is being imposed. Photo courtesy of Prosperidad Municipal Information Office

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — A total of 25  villages in Agusan del Sur province are now under granular lockdown amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The mayors of Prosperidad, San Francisco, Rosario and Bunawan towns and Bayugan City issued executive orders imposing the lockdown in purok (sub-villages) where many households were reported to have more than one member infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Food supplies were also distributed but local governments observed different policies in giving assistance.

In Prosperidad, only 92 households with COVID-19 cases in the five puroks] of Barangay Patin-ay under lockdown were given food assistance for 14 days. The package included 10 kilos of rice, egg, dressed chicken, fish, sardines, instant noodles, and vegetables.

Only family heads were given passes allowing them to go out to buy household necessities. If one is already elderly, the pass will be issued to any able-bodied family member.

Bayugan has implemented a more stringent policy in at least six villages located mostly in the center of the city. No one, not even authorized persons outside residence or APORs, is allowed outside their homes.

But the local government gave each affected household 50 kilos of rice, dressed chicken, egg, canned goods, and vegetables that would last for 14 days.

In San Francisco’s 11 barangays that were under lockdown since September 12, residents, except those belonging to households with positive cases, were allowed to go out even as police officers were deployed there to enforce strict safety protocols.

Households with COVID-19 cases were given 15 kilos of rice and canned goods.

In Rosario, Purok 6 in the mining village of Bayugan was placed under clustered granular lockdown since August 28 after officials noted an increase in virus cases.

Village chief Michael Rhay Hambala said in his social media post that affected households would be given food packs worth P400 daily. It was not clear what date the lockdown would end.

In Bunawan, 10 puroks in six villages were placed under granular from September 3 until September 17 with affected households each given 10 kilos of rice, canned goods, instant noodles, and coffee.

Agusan del Sur registered the highest number of infections in the Caraga region from September 7 to 14, according to the Department of Health.

Of the 3,835 cases recorded during the period, 1,294 came from Agusan del Sur, 971 from Butuan City, and 533 from Surigao del Sur.

/MUF