Zamboanga prepares for GCQ implementation

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The local government is now preparing for the transition of Zamboanga City from the strict enhanced community quarantine or ECQ to a more relaxed general community quarantine or GCQ effective Saturday, Mayor Beng Climaco said Wednesday.

Mayor Beng Climaco

Climaco said the local task force on Covid-19 which she heads will now prepare the new quarantine guidelines set by the national government. However, the wearing of face mask and physical distancing will strictly remain to prevent the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus or Covid-19.

This was also echoed by Dr Dulce Amor Miravite, calling the practice implemented here since the start of the community quarantine in March the “new normal.”

The mayor said she was informed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Infectious Diseases of IATF to place Zamboanga City under GCQ based on the moderate number of Covid-19 cases here.

Lorenzana also told Climaco that she can impose a lock down in any areas in Zamboanga when there is risk of Covid-19 infection.

Climaco said residents must strictly follow quarantine guidelines, saying, the current curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. will remain and that travel restrictions stay.

“Under GCQ, it is not the time to let our guards down tene siempre quita curfew, imposition of quarantine passes will be implemented. Tene siempre maga restrictions del movimiento del travel del de atun maga vivientes,” the mayor said.

She said the City Planning and Development Office, the City Administrator’s Office and the Licensing Division have prepared quarantine guidelines to balance the priorities of the local government and the public safety.

“We are fully aware that we have to balance health and economy that is why the City Planning and Development Office under Engineer (Rodrigo) Sicat has already prepared our guidelines together with the City Administrator’s Office and our Licensing Division,” Climaco said.

City Hall photos show Mayor Beng Climaco with Secretary Carlito Galvez.

She explained that no less than the IATF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez said that “we cannot endure the ECQ for an extended period because of time and government resources are limited.”

Climaco also thanked all those who are supporting the efforts of the local government in combating Covid-19, especially the private sector.

“With the help of the national government y tambien el de atun maga partners in the private sector, we are ramping up our (Covid-19) testing capabilities and we are heeding Secretary Galvez’s call to implement the T3 – Trace, Test and Treat,” she said.

Climaco said the T3 is very important in combating the deadly virus. “We are also expediting the operation of the laboratory facilities, bien importante gayot el de atun testing y claro masquin ya declara ya man y decidi el gobierno nacional del IATF para declara GCQ, este el de atun guidelines implementa quita,” she said.

Even Dr Tony Leachon, of the Manila Doctors Hospital, who was recently in Zamboanga with Galvez to inspect the Covid-19 testing facilities, said: “The only way to get out of ECQ or GCQ in the next few weeks leading to new normal life is to do massive testing - this is clearly the game changer.”

Leachon also praised Climaco for her leadership in battling the pandemic. “We are extremely impressed by the able leadership of City Mayor Isabelle Beng Climaco,” he said. 

Climaco also renewed her appeal to residents to follow quarantine guidelines and maintain cleanliness at all times. “Ta apela lang quita na de atun maga vivientes, queda quita mas abrido el de atun maga pensamientos, queda quita educated on the issue of Covid-19 so as not to allow our fear to take a better hand of our decisions,” she said.

Zamboanga now has over 100 Covid-19 cases, mostly prisoners at the penitentiary being run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. There are over 6 dozen prisoners and jail guards infected with Covid-19. But the number of infected prisoners is expected to increase as more Covid-19 test results come out.

The local government has been effective in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic because of the early imposition of the enhanced community quarantine and continued information campaign in villages.

And Dr Justin Paber, a spokesman for the Zamboanga City Medical Center, said the last reported single community transmission of the virus was early in April and Covid-19 is now concentrated at the jail.

It was unknown how the prisoners contracted the virus since the penitentiary has been off limits to visitors since the start of the enhanced community quarantine in March.

But there were suspicions that jail guards who were unaware they had been infected with the disease may have spread the Covid-19 to prisoners. Had jail officials been strict with the quarantine guidelines at the penitentiary, the spread of Covid-19 may have been prevented. 

Zamboanga still has over 700 suspected Covid-19 cases. And under GCQ, the movement of people will still be guided by the quarantine pass. Public transport will resume based on 30% rationalized route and limited load as per order of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Some establishments will be allowed to open, although regulated and quarantine control or check points shall remain in the barangays to regulate movement of people. (Zamboanga Post)

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