More Metro cities declare state of calamity, enforce curfew

PINOY INGENUITY A jeepney driver creates makeshift dividers out of juice boxes to enforce “social distancing” among his passengers, one of the precautionary measures being implemented by government and health officials against the novel coronavirus disease. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Three more mayors have declared a state of calamity in their respective cities to allow them to use calamity funds to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) throughout Metro Manila.

“The move to place the city under [a] state of calamity will allow us to purchase PPE (personnel protective equipment such as masks, gloves and goggles) for front liners, medicine, food, supplies and other equipment to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 in Muntinlupa,” Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said on Monday.

Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar made similar announcements after getting the approval of their respective city councils late on Sunday. Earlier, a state of calamity was also declared in the cities of San Juan, Makati, Quezon City, Pasay and Manila.

As of Monday, 10 cities had passed either an ordinance or an executive order to enforce a curfew until April 14 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. in line with the monthlong quarantine ordered by President Duterte on the National Capital Region. These were Manila, Makati, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Quezon City, Malabon, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Valenzuela and Parañaque.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso initially announced that the curfew would take effect in the city on Sunday night. But a city official clarified that it would be implemented starting on Thursday after Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya cautioned mayors to follow the Local Government Code.

15-day waiting period

Under the law, local ordinances can be enforced 15 days after their publication, he said.

Like Makati Mayor Abby Binay, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte signed an executive order implementing “public safety hours” in the largest and most populous city in the metropolis starting on Monday.

Unlike an ordinance, executive orders can immediately be enforced as this was a power given to mayors under the Local Government Code, according to Malaya. Despite his reminder, the mayors of Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela insisted that their respective curfew ordinances could be implemented at once.

The city council of Muntinlupa, meanwhile, also passed an antihoarding ordinance restricting the bulk buying of basic commodities to address panic buying among residents.

It also approved a liquor ban to prevent people from gathering during the duration of the community quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading.

According to Fresnedi, the Muntinlupa government would provide relief goods for informal settlers and workers affected by the temporary closure of establishments in the city. Muntinlupa has one confirmed case of COVID-19, a 44-year-old female resident being treated at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.The city health office, however, has recorded 38 persons under investigation (PUIs) and 33 persons under monitoring (PUMs).

Parañaque City, meanwhile has three positive cases residing in the barangays of Moonwalk, Sto. Niño and Sun Valley. The city currently has 30 PUIs and 34 PUMs.

Las Piñas City has two confirmed cases while Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela all remain COVID-19-free. Caloocan currently has five cases.

Quezon City has 22 positive cases compared to 14 for Makati City and 15 for San Juan. INQ