October 16, 2020
by Luche Pilongo
In this pandemic, Davao City reimposes the curfew from 7 pm to 5 am on October 15 until December 31, 2020, because of the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases. As Mayor Sara said, it is to regulate the non-essential activities people do. The implementation of a curfew is to forestall the after-work non-essential activities in order to control the number of CoVid-19 cases because of the critical status of the number of beds in SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center).
Mayor Sara also ordered an Executive Order No. 55 issued on October 19, 2020, and created a guideline to be followed by All government workers who are on duty during curfew hours; All private offices and establishments employees who time in and time out of work within the curfew hours, this shall mean to include their travel to and from their residence; All medical doctors and veterinarians who need to work;– Workers of public utility companies (energy, water, internet, etc.) conducting the construction, maintenance, or emergency activities;– Subsistence and business fishing activities, their vessels are subject to lawful inspection by the Maritime Police, Task Force Davao, Navy or Coast Guard, if there is a reasonable belief that there is an illegal activity or unlawful materials in the vessel;– Individuals attending the wake of a family member;– All medical, emergency, and disaster cases.
The said individuals in the guidelines are exempted from the curfew. Also, all videoke and karaoke machines inside private properties shall be prohibited from 10 p.m. To 5 a.m. every day. As well as the public venues and establishments that don’t have business permits are forbidden to utilize and work the 24-hour operation. On the other hand, the transportation was tasked to the CTTMO to lend a hand to those Dabawenyos who will be stranded during the curfew hours.
As of October 21, 2020, it expanded its list of specific sectors and individuals exempted from the 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, such as individuals attending the wake of a family member; priests, imams, pastors, and other religious ministers conducting funeral/burial prayers or administering the last rites of a dying person; public utility vehicles; agricultural and non-agricultural cargo; food delivery services; airplane passengers traveling to and from the airport; market suppliers, deliveries and vendors; travelers going out or passing through the city; all medical, emergency and disaster cases, including the purchase of medicines, medical supplies and equipment; and patients, their assistant and driver going to and from the hospital, chemotherapy center, dialysis center, and other medical treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation service.
The Davao City Police Office has incarcerated 194 curfew violators from October 15 to 18, 2020. The government tasked the patrols to patrol all barangays and parka, even in the corners of every place to ensure Dabawenyos’ safety and apprehend people who don’t follow the implementation. It was imposed because of the continuing rise of COVID active for the reason that mass gatherings, extra-curricular activities, and not doing the self-regulation resulted in the transmission of coronavirus.
It is the duty and responsibility of the citizens to follow health protocols issued by the government, such as wearing face masks and face shields, sanitizing, doing social distancing, and avoiding mass gatherings to ensure safety and help repress the transmission of coronavirus. Therefore, discipline and self-regulation should be applied by all people to prevent the spread of the virus because lives are at stake. The future is in the hands of the citizenry.