Cebu City authorities apprehend quarantine violators amid eased restrictions

CEBU CITY - A day after the hard lockdown was lifted in some areas in Cebu City, apprehensions were still made Tuesday by authorities of individuals who violated quarantine protocols.

• Regional IATF lifts hard lockdowns in Cebu City

Sixty residents from Sitio Alaska in the city's Barangay Mambaling were nabbed, as of 10 a.m.

“Many of them went out with Quarantine Passes,” said Prevention Restoration Order and Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) operations head Charles Villagonzalo.

Villagonzalo said the lifting of the hard lockdown only means residents are allowed to move to buy essentials outside their sitio, but quarantine protocols remain.

Aside from Sitio Alaska, the hard lockdown was lifted in Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz; Sitio Gonzalo in Barangay Tejero; Sitio Callejon in Barangay Labangon; and, the entire Barangay Bacayan.

Cebu City is under enhanced community quarantine due to the high number of coronavirus infections there, which, as of Monday afternoon, has reached past 7,500, of which, 3,338 are active.

Some residents of Sitio Alaska who went out of their community on Tuesday were those who returned to their work.

“I'm excited that I can finally find money for my family,” said Jundel Bastida, a delivery app driver who was forced to stop earning since Sitio Alaska was placed on hard lockdown for two months.

Others opted to stay put and refused to go back to work. Instead, they found an alternative livelihood in their locked down community.

Jenelyn Edralin, who used to work in a bakery, has been selling vegetables in her neighborhood instead.

“It’s better to sell than work since you won’t spend for fare and your food,” she said.

Mayor Edgar Labella is hopeful the city's request to be placed under General Community Quarantine status after July 15 will be granted.

“We have a high recovery rate. They should look into that,” he said.