By Jean Fernando
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez announced that only frontline offices and basic services providers involved in fighting the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will remain open during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine period.
In Olivarez's advisory to city residents, he said only the following offices will be open to render assistance:
Parañaque City Health Office - 826-6537/826-8195;
Ospital ng Parañaque - 825-4902 to 04/826-4060/826-3034;
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) - 810-8216/826-6147;
Fire Department - 826-9131/826-3176/553-5088;
Health Emergency and Management Services - 826-7464;
Parañaque Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) - 664-4428;
Traffic Parking Management Office (TPMO) - 829-1458;
Public Information Office - 826-0011/829-0866;
Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Headquarters - 826-8182/826-8121;
COVID-19 Hotline Numbers: 8-820-PQUE (7783); 0956-394-0176 (Globe/TM);0961-096-6249 (Smart/Sun.)
City Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Mar Jimenez said Olivarez placed the city on "total lockdown" and told city residents to stay home to avoid becoming infected by the virus.
Jimenez said that total lockdown was imposed in the city because based on their observation at the choke points placed in the city, social distancing was no longer followed, which Olivarez feared would cause the disease to spread.
He also said that those traveling to the city without official business will no longer be allowed to enter.
The PIO chief added that for the protection of some city hall employees living outside the city, they were also told to go on leave.
Jimenez also said the city created a special lane for food manufacturing trucks.
For emergency cases, Jimenez said that city residents may call their command center, which is operating 24/7, for any assistance.