Several Cebu City sitios, streets to be placed under 'granular lockdown'

The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force in Central Visayas, supervised by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, has identified 21 barangays in Cebu City which the most number of active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the past three days.

Cimatu was sent by President Rodrigo Duterte due to the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the province.

During their meeting, IATF members said these barangays may have areas that would be under granular lockdown. This means specific sitios, streets, and blocks would be placed under lockdown.

"We presented sample data within the past three days and the final list depends on the outcome of the IATF meeting," said Councilor Joel Garganera who sits as deputy implementor IATF - 7.

The barangays that have sitios that will be placed under granular lockdown are: Lahug, Guadalupe, Capitol Site, Talamban, Kamputhaw, Mabolo, Poblacion Pardo, Tisa, Sambag I, Apas, Labangon, Basak Pardo, Cogon Ramos, Punta Princesa, Sambag 2, Quiot, Zapatera, Banilad, Hipodromo, Basak San NIcholas and Cogon Pardo. 

The specific sitios have yet to be announced.

"We don't want na ang whole barangay ang i-lockdown, specific para yung mga workers natin ay makaalis pa rin," said Cimatu. 

Authorities have also yet to announce when this will be implemented. Cimatu has also tasked the barangay chairpersons to come up with a plan on how they will implement the granular lockdown, noting that all affected residents should have their share of provisions once it takes effect.

Cebu City's quarantine status was downgraded to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) last week following an increase in the number of recoveries compared to the active cases.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, there are more than 4,000 recoveries while active cases remain at more than 3,200.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government continues to crack down on barangay officials whose residents refuse to follow quarantine protocols. 

The latest show cause order was sent to Mambaling Barangay Captain Gines Abellana after photos and videos of residents of his barangay not wearing face masks, children playing, and swimming by the shore were seen online.

With MECQ in place, more workers complain that they are having a hard time commuting to their offices. 

This prompted the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industries to lobby for more buses to ply the city. 

"We need mass transport for the workers to come back to work," said CCCI President Felix Taguiam.

To date, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board only allowed 10 buses in the city for workers each with a capacity of 23 passengers with trips between 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.