TO ENSURE the safety of passengers who pass through the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), its management and the Mandaue City Government have implemented strict measures a day after commuters had an “exodus” Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Starting Friday, March 27, passengers have been required to wash their hands before having their temperatures checked by personnel of the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MCDRRMO).

MCDRRMO personnel are equipped with personal protective equipment and thermal guns.

Before passengers can board the buses, the security guards will stamp the passengers’ forearm to mark that they have gone through the precautionary measures.

Passengers flocked to the terminal last Thursday in an attempt to exit Cebu City due to the impending enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to be enforced by different local government units.

Most passengers waited for at least nine hours before they could get into the bus that would take them north. There were no tickets or priority numbers issued.

According to one of the security guards in the terminal, there will be bus trips until Saturday evening, March 29, as the Cebu Provincial Government will start to implement the ECQ at 12:01 a.m. of March 30.

Panic buying

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-Central Visayas Director Albert Ignatius Ferro urged Cebuanos not to panic amid the implementation of an ECQ in Cebu.

“Just don’t take everything in the groceries because the supply line here in the Province of Cebu is perfectly big. We have poultry, piggeries and our rice is still enough. There is no need to panic,” he added in a mix of English and Cebuano.

The announcement that Cebu Province and the independent cities of Lapu-Lapu and Cebu will be placed under an enhanced community quarantine had sent Cebuanos into a buying frenzy that they trooped to stores on Thursday, March 26.

“If you have nothing important to do outside, stay home. Assistance will be given to every member of the community who needs help. Please cooperate. Stay positive because in Cebu, we will heal as one,” Ferro said. (NDT, AYB)