Covid19 Pandemic Stringent Measures

This can be a tiresome pursuit for more than a year now, but every nation, city or any home in this planet should never be complacent. The time we grow weary in protecting ourselves poses a great risk for this evil virus to attack us.

Our city, Iligan City, is not spared from this dilemma, we got a recent surge in Covid19 cases. Five months ago the City Health Office can only record one or two new cases each day, but for like  a month now this number gradually increases. Last week, it rises to 15-25 new recorded cases per day. Already a huge volume, we can feel it because pulmo wards are getting full. If the Local Government Unit will not take stringent measures to limit the activity of the people in the malls, groceries, and any public destinations then we are doomed in crisis.

However, I can see that our local leaders are sensitive to the need in protecting the people from Covid19. Thus they had implemented again this color coding system in mobilizing the people in Iligan City. This system was already enforced last year right after the lockdown was lifted in the country, however when the Inter Agency Task Force categorized the city to General Community Quarantine this color coding system was also stopped. Lately, the LGU had finally issued a Special Order on the implementation of the color coding system again.

How does this works?

Barangays are group together into clusters and each cluster is made up of 6 - 8 barangays depending on the population. Clusters are then assigned with a corresponding color - namely red, blue, green, orange, yellow, and violet. These colors are represented in the quarantine pass each household possess. In the barangay level, they issue quarantine pass per household, that means not everyone in the family can go out to buy essential goods, just 1 each time cause each family has only 1 pass. For the frontliners and working individuals like me, a company ID is enough proof that you have to go out everyday.

This system was implemented yesterday and the police were everywhere reminding the people about it, radio stations and the social media are also on the heads up. So today it is expected that the people were informed. As expected, I see less people today in the streets, and even in public utility vehicles.

This afternoon, 5pm is usually rush hour but the city was like a ghost town. You can see only few people in jeepney stops, this area here is usually busy at rush hour, maybe 15-20 commuters are standing here each time waiting for a ride home, today I can only see 4 or 5. That was really a big difference.

In this corner here, there is always a jeepney parked in this area and one barker would be calling for commuters, but now there is none. Perhaps, there are also less jeepneys serving the barangays who are restricted to go out on this day.

This calesa or caretela (horse- drawn carriage) can still be seen here in our city for the riding public but they're just on this street going to the city market.

Its a ghost town and raining too, I feel like taking pictures because it is somewhat unusual for me to see the city almost empty.

Traffic light is working fine but no cars or whatsoever at this supposed to be the busiest time of day.

Conclusion:

The color coding scheme can be a great help in controlling the people going out on each day. Though these might be inconvenient for some people, especially the jeepney drivers who has to experience less commuters in some days of the week, but if this is really necessary people will understand.

When all things are considered, I can say that the people can be cognizant too when the need arise. Thus, I think every government should just be straightforward on its decision on what they deemed necessary. It is understandable that economy is important but weighing it with the public's safety must be considered too.

I love this quote, must be apt for our leaders who have to weigh down every single thing to decide what is necessary.

"It's not about making the right choice.
It's about making a choice and making it right.

- J.R. Rim

Photos are all MINE

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