Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III has expressed alarm over the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the municipality as he urged his constituents to stay home.
As of Aug. 4, Pateros has recorded 270 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 112 recoveries and seven deaths.
Ponce said Bgy. Sta Ana, the most populous barangay in Pateros with 28,217 residents has 58 active cases, and is now included in the list of COVID-19 hotspots in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Nag-iisang barangay po sa bayan natin na nakasama sa hotspots sa buong NCR. Kaya ang barangay Sta. Ana ay halos magto-total lockdown po tayo diyan (The only barangay in our municipality that is included in COVID-19 hotspot areas in NCR. We are mulling to impose a total lockdown there),” the mayor said during a broadcast on Facebook.
He said quarantine protocols will be strictly implemented in the barangay and a big contingent of the police will be deployed in the area.
Ponce said the municipal government is not remiss in its duty in implementing health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Ang katungkulan niyo po ay manatili tayo sa loob ng bahay at hayaan po natin na yung may mga gagawin lang sa labas na importante katulad ng bibili ng essentials, magtatrabaho ang lalabas (Your duty is to stay home and allow only those who will buy essentials to leave, those working to leave their homes),” he said.
He added, “Lalong-lalo na po dun sa mga magulang na walang pakialam sa nararanasan natin ngayon. Ang kanilang mga anak ay hinayaaang maglaro sa labas at walang mga face masks (Especially parents who don’t care about what we are experiencing right now. They allow their children to play outside without face masks).”
Under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) imposed in Metro Manila and four other provinces until Aug. 18, Ponce said the new curfew hours in Pateros is from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Exempted from the curfew are those who are engaged in food delivery and authorized workers.
Fifty percent of tricycles in the municipality have been allowed to operate in an odd-even scheme. Those with body numbers ending in even numbers can ply the streets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while those with odd numbers can operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday.
No one is allowed to go out on Sundays.
Ponce said the liquor ban is still in effect in Pateros and the municipality will require residents to wear face shields or goggles in addition to face masks.
In a 24-hour period from Aug. 4 to 5, the Pateros police apprehended 35 persons for violating curfew, not wearing face masks, traffic violation and illegal drugs.