Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" placed six more barangays under a four-day lockdown starting Wednesday (March 17) to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Domagoso, on Monday (March 15), signed Executive Order No. 7, Series of 2021, placing the following barangays under lockdown from 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17 until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, March 20:
- Barangay 185, Zone 16, Tondo 2
- Barangay 374, Zone 38, Sta. Cruz
- Barangay 521, Zone 52, Sampaloc
- Barangay 628, Zone 63, Sta. Mesa
- Barangay 675, Zone 74, Paco
- Barangay 847, Zone 92, Pandacan
In March, 2021, Domagoso authorized the Manila Barangay Bureau to enforce lockdowns in barangays with 10 or more active COVID-19 cases.
According to the order, Barangay 185 has 11 active COVID-19 cases; Barangay 374, Barangay 628, and Barangay 847 each have 10 cases; Barangay 521 has 12 cases; and Barangay 675 has 22 cases.
These areas will be called "Critical Zones" that will observe Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) measures, which is so far the strictest quarantine classification implemented in the country.
The Manila mayor said disease surveillance, massive contact tracing, verification or testing, and rapid risk assessment will be conducted during the lockdown.
"Alam ninyo, as much as possible, ayoko talagang nagla-lockdown (You know, as much as possible, I don't like implementing lockdowns). But if there is negligence of the community na medyo napapabayaan nila ang kanilang sarili (that they are not taking care of themselves), as I have said, I'm obliged to protect the neighboring barangays na nagbubuti naman (who are doing well)," he told reporters on Monday.
All residents must stay in their houses. Only those with quarantine passes and essential workers with valid company IDs will be allowed to go outside to buy food and other necessities.
The order exempts the following: health workers, military personnel, service workers (pharmacies, drug stores, and funeral homes), utility workers (energy, cable, internet, telecommunication companies, water, sanitation, and critical transport facilities including port operation), essential workers (goods delivery, food delivery, banking and money services), barangay officials (chairpersons, barangay secretary, barangay treasurers, kagawads, and executive officers), and media practitioners accredited by the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the Inter-Agency Task Force.
Barangay officials and members of the Manila Police District will be deployed to ensure the proper implementation of the lockdown.
Domagoso assured that affected residents will receive food boxes from the city government.
On March 9, Domagoso placed Barangay 351 in San Lazaro, Barangay 725 in Malate, and Malate Bayview Hotel and Hop Inn Hotel, both at Barangay 699 in Malate, under lockdown from March 11 to 14.
Data from the Manila city government showed that as of March 15, Manila has at least 1,673 active cases out of 31,190 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 28,686 have recovered while 831 have died.