Cebu City should stop being inconsistent in its implementation of community quarantine protocols so as not to confuse the public.
In December, it temporarily suspended the use of quarantine passes to allow thousands of residents to flock to churches to attend dawn masses.
It also turned a blind eye to the crowd that filled groceries and department stores for some last-minute shopping.
Earlier this month, it allowed the holding of novena masses at the Basilica del Sto. Niño to commemorate the feast in honor of the Child Jesus.
Before its epiphany and pressure from different sectors, the City even considered pushing through with the social aspect of the Sinulog celebration, albeit with strict guidelines to minimize but not eradicate the risk of infection from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Well, it appears the “grace period” has ended because the City and local police are once again apprehending violators of safety and health guidelines.
A surprise police operation from Wednesday night, Jan. 13, 2021, to Thursday dawn, Jan. 14, resulted in the arrest of 44 people, majority of whom were caught by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) committing several violations, including defying the curfew ordinance and failing to adhere to strict physical distancing and complying with the two-liquor-only-per-customer rule, as stated in Mayor Edgardo Labella’s executive order.
According to a SunStar Cebu report, it was only the third such operation, dubbed Oplan Bulabog, that the CCPO has conducted since the pandemic began in March last year.
It looks like the CCPO will only intensify their operations in the next few days, especially since the mayor issued a new executive order prohibiting “secret Sinulog parties being held in restaurants, hotels and other commercial establishments in the city.”
According to Maj. Eraño Regidor, CCPO’s Community Affairs and Development Unit head, their main objective is to prevent mass gatherings in commercial establishments in light of the recent rise in Covid cases in the city.
But what will happen after the Fiesta Señor? And if the number of Covid cases goes down, what then?
If the City and the police had only been clear and fair with their intentions, the public would probably understand and abide by quarantine protocols. Or, at least, they should.
Instead, residents have been given mixed signals, which may explain their erratic reaction to the government’s efforts to contain an ongoing pandemic.