MAYOR Oscar Moreno has rejected the call for the imposition of enhanced community quarantine in Cagayan de Oro, saying this will "lead to greater disruption of the people."
On his letter of reply, dated Friday, April 3, to the proposal of a group of doctors, Moreno said he cannot elevate the quarantine to the enhanced community level without at least the concurrence from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
"While I agree to virtually all of the points and suggestions you have raised in your aforesaid letters, and am very appreciative of your desire to help, I must, however, advise you that under the IATF guidelines, local government units 'shall abide by the directives of the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the imposition of general and enhanced community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions,'" Moreno said in his reply.
Moreno also said, during the regular press conference on the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) updates on Saturday, April 4, that placing Cagayan de Oro under lockdown would result in "greater disturbances in the lives of our people."
He added that a "real" lockdown includes all forms of transportation, except the medical vans and vehicles used to transport goods and others, to stop operating.
"Ang akong pangandoy, ang akong gusto unta is nga unta kining community quarantine would be sufficient enough para nga mabuntog na nato ang Covid. Kay if we go to a lockdown mode, dako sad kaayo nga sakripisyo ang mahitabo niana on the part of the people," Moreno said.
The mayor has also wished for the public to practice the guidelines of the community quarantine, such as staying at home and limiting the activities done outside their homes.
"I hope nga kanang principles, guidelines sa community quarantine, ato nang obserbahan kay og sundon lang nato na, akong tan-aw sufficient na. Magpuyo lang ta sa balay and then limit the activities outside of our home to those nga kinahanglan gyud. Taman sa mahimo, puyo lagi sa balay," Moreno said.