MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes is looking to convene a meeting with Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan in hopes that a synchronized curfew can be imposed in the tri-cities starting this week.
This after Metro Manila mayors imposed a uniform curfew in all the 16 cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region (NCR) beginning Monday, March 15, 2021 to curb the rising Covid-19 cases there.
John Eddu Ibañez, Cortes’ executive secretary, said considering that coronavirus cases are not only increasing in Manila but in Cebu as well, Cortes wanted to meet with Labella and Chan.
Cortes told Ibañez it would be best for the three cities to adopt a uniform curfew just like in Metro Manila.
Mandaue’s current curfew starts at 11 p.m. until 4 a.m.
In Cebu City, the curfew begins at 11 p.m. and ends at 5 a.m.
While, in Lapu Lapu City, the curfew hours are from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Ibañez said most likely, the three cities will release an executive order within the week to announce the uniform curfew.
Interviewed by SunStar Cebu, Labella said he is willing to adjust the city’s curfew to synchronize it with the curfews of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, while Chan said he first
wants to hear what Cortes and Labella have to say before deciding on the uniform time.
Chan said he favors a synchronized curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. but it must exempt workers on graveyard shifts.
Chan said synchronized curfew could help prevent people from leaving their houses at night especially now that the city has lifted its liquor ban.
Covid-19 cases
Mandaue’s positivity rate hit 35 percent last week, the highest ever recorded in the city since the pandemic began.
This means that for every 100 individuals tested, 35 were found positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the coronavirus disease.
The positivity rate threshold established by the Department of Health (DOH) is five percent.
Ibañez said this week, Mandaue’s Covid-19 cases went down to an average of 10 cases daily.
Also, despite the rise in daily cases, Mandaue’s healthcare utilization rate is still not at an alarming state, Ibañez said.
A DOH 7 report on March 12 said 993 asymptomatic to mild Covid-19 patients in Mandaue were confined at the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs).
While 64 mild cases, 22 moderate cases, 15 patients with severe symptoms, and five with critical conditions were admitted to hospitals in the city.
Business reaction
Meanwhile, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam said a synchronized curfew will be for the best.
“With the proper consultations of our health professionals, this will be for the best of us here in Cebu. Let’s pray that we will soon start the vaccination rollout for everyone,” Taguiam said.
For Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Steven Yu, imposing a uniform curfew will only have a minimal impact.
“There is very little night time leisure activity now due to the liquor ban and certain barangay restrictions. And due to limited transportation, many malls and outlets close early,” he said.
Yu urged that inspite of the curfew, there should be continuous efforts to improve the availability of public transportation for authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) at night to aid the workers’ productivity. (PAC / JKV, JOB, GCM / JKV)