By Armando B. Fenequito Jr. DAVAO CITY – The municipal government of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte has placed the entire town under community quarantine starting March 16 in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Mayor Ernesto Evangelista issued Executive Order No. 9, series of 2020 to implement stringent social distancing measures which he described as an aggressive response being taken by the municipal government of Santo Tomas to battle the impending threats of COVID-19 virus. “We are fighting an unseen enemy here and we are doing our best that we can to protect our people, our resources. That’s why I appeal to everyone to cooperate and follow the guidelines that we formulated so that our health and safety will not be comprised,” he said. Evangelista said the executive order was one of the means to effectively contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus “to implement social distancing by restricting the movement of the people and encouraging them to stay at home during this serious health crisis now being faced by the entire country.” He said the order also discourages residents from leaving their homes, except only when they have to go to work, buy food or medicine, or go to the hospital. The executive order also bans all sorts of mass gatherings whether personal, social, cultural, civic, or political are suspended until the State of Public Health Emergency has been lifted; Classes in all levels were also ordered suspended indefinitely, and private establishments/companies were advised to formulate and implement flexible work plans for their employees. According to Evangelista, the community quarantine would prepare the whole town for any eventuality of a possible municipal-wide lockdown should the COVID-19 crisis worsen. General community quarantine is defined as a condition where movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points.