DEPARTMENT of Health in Davao Region (DOH-Davao) has pinpointed the derby at the New Davao Matina Gallera held on March 7, 10, and 12, 2020 as the root of the local transmission of Covid-19 in the region.
Based on the data issued by the agency on April 6, 2020, of the 80 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the region, 23 had exposure to the Matina gallera. Of the 11 reported deaths, six had exposure to Matina gallera.
Data also showed that of the 1,937 people who were contact-traced by the health department, 427 have exposure to Matina gallera. Of the 427, 139 are from Davao City, 127 from Davao del Sur, 90 from Davao Oriental, 19 from Davao del Norte, five from Davao de Oro, one from Davao Occidental, and 46 from other regions.
The Davao City Mayor's Office conducted an investigation surrounding the gallera. It found out that the cockfighting derby at the Matina gallera could have been stopped by the division chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD).
"Based on the documents presented and the timeline covering the community quarantine implemented because of Covid-19, there was no law violated," Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said.
The derby was a private event slated for Araw ng Dabaw. However, when Duterte-Carpio ordered the cancellation of major Araw ng Dabaw events in February, the derby was not part of it as it was a private event.
"It is, however, noted that on March 3 and 8, the Division Chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Division could have stopped the conduct of the derby and further prevented the situation from escalating, but did not vigorously act on it. It was a judgment call that was never made," she said.
She pointed out that the cancellation of the Araw events in February, according to the mayor, was also a “clear direction” the BPLD chief could have anticipated. The mayor said the local official has already tendered their resignation effective on April 4.
During the course when the permits of the derby were being processed, DOH and the city government issued a series of guidelines and advisories on staging events. It was also during these times when Covid-19 has begun to affect the nation.
True to what the mayor said, the things that were happening around us around a month ago were clear warning signs that the derby could have been stopped.
"This serves as a reminder for all officials in the City Government to always put forward the general welfare of the residents of the city. I hope that this shall be a lesson that no one will ever forget, especially for those who work to serve Davao City and the Dabawenyos," Duterte-Carpio said.
Likewise, to the general public, this fiasco is also a lesson for us -- listen to the government during times of crisis. The DOH and World Health Organization have warned people about gathering even when Covid-19 was not yet declared as a pandemic. Yet, there are still those who refused to listen to their warnings.
Now, we have to pay the price of their ways. We just hope that the measures the government is implementing will prevent the spread.
We also call on those who went to the cockfighting derby to submit themselves to the hospital or inform the Covid-19 Tast Force in the region. We also call on them to be honest to our health care workers when being questioned.