Lapu-Lapu City says ‘coffin’ campaign effective in keeping residents at home

Lapu-Lapu City has credited its “Oplan Lungon (Coffin)” campaign for keeping more residents in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic.

The city government launched the campaign in early July to improve public compliance with health guidelines and social distancing protocols to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“The people have become more self-aware. They are now conscious and there is a fear. Our approach is effective,” Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan said in a mix of English and Cebuano on Tuesday, July 21.

The campaign initially involved displaying coffins at various checkpoints near the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and Lapu-Lapu’s public markets – the same approach being used by police in some parts of the country to amplify the gravity of the pandemic.

Vehicles or hearses were also covered with tarpaulins with notes that read: “Died of COVID because of not wearing face mask” and “Stay at home so you don’t end up inside the coffin.”

The campaign is complemented by informative seminars, as well as flyers on COVID-19 and what to do to curb its transmission.

Chan also said that the increase in coronavirus cases in the city was due to the contact tracing conducted by the city government. The city has over 1,400 coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, the mayor released a copy of Executive Order No. 2020-048-L, adopting Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-37.

The EO, which Chan posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, allows restaurants and fast food businesses in Lapu-Lapu City to operate dine-in services at 50% maximum capacity.

Exorbitant burial charges at Lapu-Lapu cemetery

Chan is also looking into complaints that some employees at the public cemetery have taken advantage of the pandemic to charge exorbitant burial fees.

Chan inspected Lapu-Lapu City’s Municipal Cemetery on Tuesday after he received complaints that some families were charged P12,000 to P25,000 for burial services at the public cemetery, when the standard charges only range from P2,000 to P3,000.

During his cemetery inspection, the mayor noted some substandard sepulchers with thin concrete walls and widely-spaced wire reinforcements, that caused some chambers to collapse. Leaks were also noted in some newly interred chambers.

He said he would hold a meeting meet with the cemetery contractors, complainants, and public cemetery officials on Thursday morning, July 23. – Rappler.com