CAGAYAN DE ORO. Mayor Oscar Moreno. (Contributed photo)
CAGAYAN DE ORO. Mayor Oscar Moreno. (Contributed photo)

Lockdown will discriminate the poor, mayor says

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has stood firm on his decision not to declare a lockdown in Cagayan de Oro despite mounting pressure from groups.

Moreno said in a press conference that a group of doctors in Cagayan de Oro has been advocating for a lockdown and another group of people is planning for a signature campaign to call for a lockdown.

But Moreno said he will not declare a lockdown without the Department of Health's guidance.

Moreno said a lockdown will discriminate the poor.

"I hope they realize nga sa lockdown, suspended ang transportation, apil ang private, dili lang public transportation, kay ma-discriminate sad nimo ang kabus nga walay sakyanan and that is not constitutionally valid. Lugar, ang mga naay sakyanan sila lang ang makalakaw maka-move from place to place. Problema kana kay kadto hinuon mga kabus mao hinuon ang imong gilisod-lisod," he said.

(I hope they realize that during lockdown, transportation will be suspended, including the private, not just public transportation because it can be a discrimination for poor people who don't have vehicles and that is not constitutionally valid. It appears that those who have vehicles can be the only ones who will be able to move around. That is a problem because the poor will most likely to suffer.)

"I consult with the DOH from time to time, it's in the IATF (inter-agency task force) guidelines, it's not as if you are the local chief executive you can do anything you want," Moreno added.

Moreno, however, said that he understands the lockdown proposal of some groups.

"I would like to believe sincere ilang tuyo, I'm getting the feel nga naay color, naay common denominator, pero demokrasya man ta," he added.

(I would like to believe their intention is sincere, I'm getting a feel that there is a common denominator, but then again, we are in a democratic country.)

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