Navotas goes into 2-week lockdown

The entire city of Navotas, in the northwest part of Metro Manila, goes on a two-week lockdown starting Thursday, July 16, to arrest the rising number of COVID-19 cases. 

The citywide lockdown starts at 5 am Thursday until to 11:59 pm on July 29.

As of of Tuesday, July 14, Navotas has 1,074 confirmed cases of COVID-19, more than half of whom – at 661 – are active, according to the city health office. The city has a population of about a quarter of a million.

“Many of our constituents thought that because of eased restrictions during the general community quarantine, they can be lax about practicing safety measures,” said Mayor Toby Tiangco.

“We need to remind them that the deadly virus is still here and it continues to endanger our lives and those of our loved ones,” he said.

The city government introduced 3 ordinances for the implementation of the lockdown. 

Under City Ordinance No. 2020-31, residents of Navotas are required to do the following: 

• Wear face mask
• Practice physical distancing of one to two meters  

People who go out of their homes without authorization will be fined between P1,000 and P3,000.

City Ordinance No. 2020-32, meanwhile, provides amended guidelines for the operation of businesses during the lockdown. Establishments are required to: 

• Screen employees
• Implement physical distancing
• Reduced the number of people allowed in the workplace

Violators will face the following:

• Fined of between P2,000 and P5,000
• Summary suspension of sanitary permit 
• Summary closure for 7 to 14 days.

City Ordinance No. 2020-33 imposes a 24-hour curfew on residents below 18 years old. Exempted are minors who need to go out to enroll in schools or travel for medical purposes, but they have to be accompanied by their parent or guardian.

It is the parents or guardians who will be penalized if their children are found roaming the streets or playing or loitering outside of their home:

• P1,000 for the first offense
• P2,000 for the second offense
• P3,000 or imprisonment for the 3rd offense
• P4,000 or imprisonment for 4th offense

“These ordinances form part of our defense strategy to keep our people safe from COVID-19. With the continued rise of cases, crowded facilities, depleting resources, and exhausted health care providers, we need to take drastic actions,”Tiangco said. 

On Wednesday night, July 15, President Rodrigo agreed to keep the entire National Capital Region under the more relaxed general community quarantine for two weeks. 

This came with a warning, however, that the region would be placed under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine if the number of COVID-19 cases doesn’t go down. – Rappler.com