Thirteen barangays in Iloilo City have been placed under “total lockdown” to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The lockdown started at 6 p.m on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and will end at 5:59 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Issued by Mayor Jerry Trenas, Executive Order No. 148 stated that based on the Iloilo City COVID-19 Team’s recommendation, “there is a need to impose a total lockdown” on the following villages:

▪Simon Ledesma, Jaro
▪Ortiz, City Proper
▪Sooc, Arevalo
▪Concepcion, City Proper
▪Bolilao, Mandurriao
▪Calumpang, Molo
▪Mansaya, Lapuz
▪San Isidro, Jaro
▪Bo. Obrero, Lapuz
▪M.H. Del Pilar, Jaro
▪Aguinaldo, La Paz
▪Punong, Lapuz
▪Lapuz Sur, Lapuz

These barangays have at least two and rising number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Infectious Disease Resolution No. 11, Series of 2020 provides that a barangay-wide quarantine may be imposed where there are at least two COVID-19 cases belonging to different households in the same barangay,” the EO stated.

“Section 2 of Presidential Executive Order No. 112, Series of 2020 provides that mayors of cities are authorized to impose ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) on barangays,” it added.

Residents of the affected villages were “strictly advised” to stay at home for 120 hours or five days.

All public and private vehicles are not allowed to operate within the affected barangays.

According to the EO, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to persons who need immediate hospital care and management.

The Iloilo City Government, meanwhile, is obligated to provide food and medical needs of the residents for the duration of the lockdown.

“For all persons, who knowingly break any of the provisions [of the EO] as well as established health and safety protocols issued by the Department of Health, IATF, and other agencies, and in the process endanger the lives of the [city residents], will face the appropriate administrative and criminal cases,” the EO stated.

Based on data from the DOH-6, the city logged a total of 2,062 COVID-19 cases as of Sept. 22. The infection count includes 1,195 recoveries and 36 deaths.IMT

Photos by Francis Basco/RMN-Iloilo