Muntinlupa declares state of calamity due to COVID-19
Published Mar 17, 2020 12:00 am
By Jonathan Hicap
The Muntinlupa City government declared a state of calamity on March 16 after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city.
The triage area at the city-run Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Alabang. (Photo by Muntinlupa PIO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
As part of drastic measures to implement social distancing and stem the spread of the virus, the Muntinlupa City Council passed three ordinances including the closure of malls.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi announced the state of calamity declaration on Monday, saying it is needed to enable the city government to access the local calamity fund.
“The move to place the city under a state of calamity will allow us to purchase PPE for frontliners, medicine, food, supplies, and other equipment to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Muntinlupa,” he said.
According to the DOH, Muntinlupa’s first COVID-19 case is patient PH139, who is Filipino, 44 years old, female, with no travel history. She is currently being treated at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang.
Muntinlupa health chief Dr. Teresa Tuliao said the city government and the DOH have been conducting tracing of persons who came in contact with PH139. As of March 16, Muntinlupa has 33 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 38 persons under investigation (PUI).
The city council passed ordinances that will be in effect until April 14.
One is an anti-hoarding ordinance to restrict bulk-buying of basic commodities to address the public’s panic buying.
Councilor Raul Corro, majority floor leader, said another ordinance was passed ordering the closure of malls, beauty parlors, spas, barber shops, and similar establishments that render close person to person contacts effective immediately except supermarkets and groceries, drugstores and pharmacies, banks, and hardware stores. These exempted businesses are required to implement strict social distancing to protect clients.
The City Council also approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale, delivery, and drinking of liquor and other alcoholic drinks within the city during the quarantine period and preventing drinking in public places for social distancing purposes.
It also passed an ordinance ordering the closure of public and private recreational facilities found in hotels, resorts, villages or subdivisions, condominiums, gambling venues, and the like such as basketball, badminton, tennis courts, swimming pools, billiard halls, and golf courses, and regulating the operation of restaurants in hotels, carinderias, and similar places by allowing only take-out orders and prohibiting dine-ins.
In addition, an ordinance was passed to provide relief assistance to severely affected families that are restrained by the community quarantine to work for their daily wage, especially those who have no work or who depend only on daily wages as recommended by the Social Services Department. The assistance will be taken from the Quick Response Fund under the declared state of calamity.
The City Council also adopted a resolution commending medical and health personnel, and peace and order personnel who are in the frontlines of protecting public health and maintaining peace and order for their selfless service and dedication to duty during the crisis period.
According to the city government, the public is advised to stay indoors and consider cancelling non-essential travels as Muntinlupa also imposed curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from March 16 until April 14.
Designated triage areas have been set up by the city government at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa to serve as quarantine rooms. Barangays were also ordered to install isolation areas for residents suspected to have contracted the virus for monitoring by the local health office.
Fresnedi urged the residents to remain calm and to be vigilant under the emergency situation. For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa residents may contact the following hotlines: 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.
The triage area at the city-run Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Alabang. (Photo by Muntinlupa PIO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
As part of drastic measures to implement social distancing and stem the spread of the virus, the Muntinlupa City Council passed three ordinances including the closure of malls.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi announced the state of calamity declaration on Monday, saying it is needed to enable the city government to access the local calamity fund.
“The move to place the city under a state of calamity will allow us to purchase PPE for frontliners, medicine, food, supplies, and other equipment to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Muntinlupa,” he said.
According to the DOH, Muntinlupa’s first COVID-19 case is patient PH139, who is Filipino, 44 years old, female, with no travel history. She is currently being treated at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang.
Muntinlupa health chief Dr. Teresa Tuliao said the city government and the DOH have been conducting tracing of persons who came in contact with PH139. As of March 16, Muntinlupa has 33 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 38 persons under investigation (PUI).
The city council passed ordinances that will be in effect until April 14.
One is an anti-hoarding ordinance to restrict bulk-buying of basic commodities to address the public’s panic buying.
Councilor Raul Corro, majority floor leader, said another ordinance was passed ordering the closure of malls, beauty parlors, spas, barber shops, and similar establishments that render close person to person contacts effective immediately except supermarkets and groceries, drugstores and pharmacies, banks, and hardware stores. These exempted businesses are required to implement strict social distancing to protect clients.
The City Council also approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale, delivery, and drinking of liquor and other alcoholic drinks within the city during the quarantine period and preventing drinking in public places for social distancing purposes.
It also passed an ordinance ordering the closure of public and private recreational facilities found in hotels, resorts, villages or subdivisions, condominiums, gambling venues, and the like such as basketball, badminton, tennis courts, swimming pools, billiard halls, and golf courses, and regulating the operation of restaurants in hotels, carinderias, and similar places by allowing only take-out orders and prohibiting dine-ins.
In addition, an ordinance was passed to provide relief assistance to severely affected families that are restrained by the community quarantine to work for their daily wage, especially those who have no work or who depend only on daily wages as recommended by the Social Services Department. The assistance will be taken from the Quick Response Fund under the declared state of calamity.
The City Council also adopted a resolution commending medical and health personnel, and peace and order personnel who are in the frontlines of protecting public health and maintaining peace and order for their selfless service and dedication to duty during the crisis period.
According to the city government, the public is advised to stay indoors and consider cancelling non-essential travels as Muntinlupa also imposed curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from March 16 until April 14.
Designated triage areas have been set up by the city government at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa to serve as quarantine rooms. Barangays were also ordered to install isolation areas for residents suspected to have contracted the virus for monitoring by the local health office.
Fresnedi urged the residents to remain calm and to be vigilant under the emergency situation. For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa residents may contact the following hotlines: 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.