By MINKA KLAUDIA S. TIANGCO
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso yesterday announced that he will place the entire Tondo District 1 under a 48-hour hard lockdown this week.
The announcement came days after the city government also placed Sampaloc district under a hard lockdown.
Data from the city government showed that there are 81 COVID-19 cases in Tondo District 1 as of Tuesday afternoon. This makes it the second district with the highest number of cases in the city, next to Sampaloc that has 103 cases.
The city mayor said 48 hours will be enough for the members of the Manila Health Department to conduct rapid testing on the district’s residents.
Those who will test positive will be sent to nearby designated testing sites for confirmatory swab testing, he said. The testing sites include Rosauro Almario Elementary School, Timoteo Paez Integrated School, Tondo High School, and Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School.
Domagoso said that during the lockdown, Tondo District 1, the densest district in Manila, must resemble a “ghost town” since no one will be allowed to leave their houses, aside from health workers, law enforcers, service workers, government officials, and other essential workers.
All commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, and other activities not mentioned in the exemptions will also be suspended while the lockdown is in effect.
“These areas will be cordoned by enforcement unit,” he said in a press briefing. “There is no point to open it because the quarantine pass will be cancelled temporarily, so there will be no marketgoers.”
However, the Manila Mayor said they might include Recto Market and the piers in Tondo District 1 on the list of exemptions to ensure the unhampered movement of food and other necessities.
The city chief executive said elements of the Manila Police District (MPD) and barangay officials will be deployed to ensure the proper implementation of the lockdown. Up to five holding areas for violators are also being prepared, he said.
Domagoso said he will make a formal announcement today after they finalize the executive order.
Residents will be given ample time to prepare and will be given relief packs by the city government before the lockdown is enforced, he assured.
“We have to put disciplne, we have to address this, we have to do this. At the same time, we will listen to you and what you really need,” he said.
Domagoso also announced that they are studying the possibility of putting other areas in the Philippine capital, namely San Andres, Malate, and Sta. Cruz, under hard lockdown.
There are now 659 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 90 deaths and 60 recoveries in the Philippine capital as of Tuesday afternoon.
