TACLOBAN City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has assured the public that he would not impose lockdowns in Tacloban despite the escalation of alert level in the city and the rest of the provinces in Eastern Visayas.

“We are the capital city. We need to adjust for others. It will be inhumane to (declare) lockdown in Tacloban City and yet we have victims of typhoon coming here,” Romualdez said.

In a statement, the mayor said that lockdowns “will not only affect the city but the entire region, including areas devastated by Typhoon Odette.”

Tacloban has been placed under Alert Level 3 from January 14 to January 31, 2022.

Instead of the whole city, a granular lockdown will be imposed in areas believed to be at risk of clustering of Covid-19 transmission, the City Government said.

The areas under granular lockdown “will be determined by the City Health Office and City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office following the guidelines issued by the National Taskforce.”

“The City Social Welfare and Development Office and barangay unit are to ensure that constituents affected will have access to their basic needs,” said the City Information Office.

Romualdez earlier signed Executive Order 2022-01-001, saying that “mobility of unvaccinated individuals will be limited to purchasing essential goods and services, or for work in permitted industries and offices in accordance with existing labor laws, rules, and regulations.”

Meanwhile, in the recent Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 157-A, Ormoc City, Province of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, and Samar were also placed under Alert Level 3 effective January 16 until at the end of the month.

Under Alert Level 3, activities or establishments shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 30 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity, provided that all workers of the establishments are fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19). (SunStar Philippines)