Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA – The Quezon City government is taking an aggressive stance in implementing the Special Concern Lockdown Area (SCLA), most especially in places where residents are observed not following the minimum public health safety protocols.
“Ngayon kahit wala pang index case na makikita sa isang lugar basta’t makita ng mga enforcers natin na maluwag ang mga tao doon hindi nagsusuot ng mask, hindi sumusunod sa minimum health standard, we are assuming already na meron na silang infection doon kahit wala pang na-test so we already lock down those areas kahit na wala pang index case (Even when we do not have an index case, as long as our enforcers see that people in certain areas do not wear their mask, do not follow the minimum health standards, we are assuming already that there is an infection even if nobody has been tested yet, we place the area under lockdown),” Mayor Joy Belmonte said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
The move is an "innovation" in addressing the alarming increase in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infections in the city, Belmonte said.
As of the latest data, 28 areas in the city are under SCLA. These are the following:
49 & 51 E Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Barangay Doña Josefa - started March 4
Paul Street and Thaddeus Street, Jordan Park Homes Subdivision, Doña Carmen, Barangay Commonwealth - started March 4
No. 237 Apo Street, Barangay Maharlika - started March 4
No. 64 14th Avenue, Barangay Socorro - started March 6
No. 64-B Agno Extension, Barangay Tatalon - started March 7
No. 90 Gonzales Compound, Barangay Balon Bato - started March 8
No. 50 K-9th Street, Barangay West Kamias - started March 8
Portion of Sitio 5, Jose Abad Santos, Barangay Sta. Lucia - started March 9
No. 138 -178 Orchids Street and No. 153-165 Jasmin Street, Barangay Central - started March 10
No. 43 Salvador St., Barangay Krus Na Ligas - started March 10
a Portion of Ramos Compound, Barangay Unang Sigaw - started March 10
No. 86 C. Benitez Street, Barangay San Martin de Porres - started March 10
No. 18, 3rd Ave., Barangay BL Crame - started March 10
No. 27 Mabituan Street, Barangay Masambong - started March 11
No. 77 to Block 2 Lot 7 Orchids Street, Freedom Park 3, Barangay Batasan Hills - started March 11
Christ the King Mission Seminary, No. 101 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Barangay Kristong Hari - started March 12
Nos. 20 and 22 Antique Street, Barangay Ramon Magsaysay - started March 12
No. 43-N Langka Street, Barangay Balingasa - started March 12
No. 82 Mabituan St., Barangay Masambong - started March 12
PhilQ Manpower Services, No. 16 Tulip St., Barangay Roxas - started March 12
No. 41 Mendoza St., Barangay Paltok - started March 13
Robina St., Barangay Bungad - started March 13
Just Textile Finishing Corporation located at No. 101 Kaingin Rd, Barangay Apolonio Samson (company barracks) - started March 14
No. 9 Batangas Street, Barangay San Antonio - started March 15
No. 2 Bodino St., Barangay Paraiso - started March 15
Block 12, Lot 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and Blocks 13 - 14, Sto. Niño Village, Chestnut Extension, Barangay Fairview - started March 16
No. 8 Oxford St., Barangay E. Rodriguez - started March 16
No. 241, 15th Ave., Barangay E. Rodriguez - started March 16
About 843 families totaling 2,613 individuals were affected by the 14-day lockdown, Belmonte said.
Earlier, the city government imposed granular lockdowns only in areas with clustering of Covid-19 cases or evidence of community transmission.
“Ngayon pag meron ng index case at ang index case na ito ay nakatira sa isang lugar kung saan alam natin na mahirap mag enforce ng minimum health standards katulad ng ating mga depressed areas, ng ating mga informal settler communities, etc, ay nagla-lockdown na rin tayo at nagte-test ng aggressively (Now if we have an index case and this index case lives in an area where it is difficult to enforce minimum health standards such as in the depressed areas or informal settlers community, we lock down and test aggressively),” Belmonte said.
Meantime, the city government assured that all affected families are given food packs and essential kits while under lockdown and would be subjected to swab tests and the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
As of March 17, the city has recorded 37,272 total Covid-19 cases. Active cases are at 3,812, recoveries at 32,594, and 866 deaths. (PNA)
