Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced today that 12 additional barangays in the city will be placed under a four-day lockdown.
These include Barangays 107, 147, 256, 262, 297, 350, 385, 513, 519, 624, 696, and 831.
In his ‘The Capital Report’ via Facebook live, Domagoso said that he signed Executive Order No. 8 declaring these areas as critical zones to provide rapid response operation and contain the resurgence and spread of COVID-19. The lockdown will begin on March 22 at 12:01 a.m. until March 25, 11:59 p.m.
Aside from the said barangays, Domagoso also imposed a street lockdown in Kusang Loob Street, Sta. Cruz in Brgy. 353, and clustering lockdown at the NYK Fil-Ship Management Building. in Brgy. 658.
Prior to this, six other barangays have already been placed under lockdown.
“Ayaw ko pong mag-lockdown (I do not like to impose a lockdown). Deep inside me, with all honesty, mabigat na mabigat sa kamay ko ang pag-lockdown (implementing a lockdown falls too heavily into my hands),” Domagoso admitted.
“Maasim man ang suka, kailangan kong inumin. Kailangan nating gawin upang ma-proteksyonan pa ang nakararami (The vinegar may be too sour, but I have to take it. We need to do it for the protection of the majority),” he justified.
Exempted from the lockdown are health workers, military personnel, service workers, utility workers, essential workers, barangay officials, and media personnel accredited by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Inter-Agency Task Forces for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Holy week activities also suspended
Mayor Domagoso also signed Executive Order No. 9 that prohibits all activities for Holy Week, such as pabasa, senakulo, processions, Visita Iglesia, and other similar activities that attract large crowd and may result to mass gathering.
“Over the last few weeks there has been an alarming spike in COVID-19 infection not only in the city of Manila but also in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces”, Domagoso explained.
“I believe in the church leadership, I believe in our priests that we will help each other and cooperate,” the mayor added.
COVID-19 infections in Manila City
Today, March 19, the Manila City Health Department recorded 356 new cases in the city. Bringing the total of active COVID-19 cases in Manila City to 2,155.
Occupancy rate of COVID-19 bed capacity in six district hospitals of Manila has now reached 55%, while occupancy rate of its quarantine facilities is now at 93%. —Patrick de Jesus
