By Jonathan Hicap
The Muntinlupa City government has appealed to residents to stay home to prevent the increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (standing left) telling barangay captains in a meeting today to strictly implement the curfew and social distancing in their areas as measures against COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Muntinlupa PIO/MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi held a meeting today with city health officials and councilors to discuss measures against the spread of the virus. He told barangay captains to strictly implement the curfew and social distancing in their areas.
As of March 19, the city government said there are three confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city, down from four after it was found out that upon validation, patient PH139, the first case in the city, resides in Cavite and not in Muntinlupa. The three include two from an upscale village in Alabang.
As of writing, there were 96 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 45 patients under investigation (PUI).
Of the PUM, 46 are from Barangay Sucat followed by Cupang, 11; Tunasan, 9; Poblacion and Bayanan, 8 each; Putatan, 7; Ayala Alabang, 4; Alabang, 2; and Buli, 1.
The PUI cases consist of 33 from hospitals and 12 under home quarantine that were reported to the City Health Office. Of the 12, Poblacion and Putatan have three each followed by Buli, 2; Tunasan, Bayanan, Sucat, and Ayala Alabang, 1 each; and zero cases in Alabang and Cupang.
During the meeting, Fresnedi discussed providing food assistance to city residents, and intensifying the implementation of community quarantine.
Some residents reported that some people in their areas still drank alcohol despite a new ordinance banning the sale, delivery, and drinking of liquor and other alcoholic drinks during the duration of the quarantine.
Many are also going out of their homes despite advice from authorities that staying home is one way to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We plead to our constituents to stay at home during this health emergency. The local government is restricting movement of people only for accessing basic necessities and essential work,” Fresnedi said.
There is a curfew in Muntinlupa from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from March 16 to April 14 and the public is advised to stay indoors.
Muntinlupa spokesperson Tez Navarro said the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Muntinlupa augmented roving personnel and will start apprehending violators of the curfew.
Meanwhile, two of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Muntinlupa are residents of an exclusive village in Alabang.
A letter from the village president addressed to residents that was shared on the Alabang Bulletin Facebook page and by netizens indicated that the local health authorities confirmed the cases.
The letter stated that the two are female. One got infected by being exposed to a visitor from another country, while the other got it when she visited a relative in another city.
A city official told Manila Bulletin that the two are included among the three confirmed cases in the city.
As a result, the village is in complete lockdown starting on March 19 with residents barred from loitering. All visitors will be denied entry to the village
For information about the community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach the hotline numbers 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.