THEY are not medical professionals nor health care personnel. But each day, they go to work risking their lives under the threats of Covid-19.
They are the other frontliners who are out there performing their tasks as usual, in this most unusual times.
Police Corporal Mark Rayoso, 30, is among the dozens of policemen assigned to man checkpoints in Cebu City.
His job to strictly implement the enhanced community quarantine and ensure order is crucial.
Rayoso now goes on duty for 12 straight hours a day.
But other than the adjusted work hours, it is having to stay away from his family that is, by far, the ultimate sacrifice.
"Maglisod na mi og duol sa usa'g-usa alang sa safety nila (It’s now hard to go near them for their own safety)," he said.
Though worried, his wife, Nikki expressed support.
She said she cannot have him choose between their family and her husband's sworn duty.
"In spite of all that, I have a strong faith in God that He will protect him and all the other frontliners," she said.
Bank teller Andria Banaria, 22 faces random people daily and handles their cash.
What keeps her going, she said, is the need to provide, financially, for her family and to serve clients.
"Kinahanglan jud ko mutabang labi na sa pinansyal ug sa mga kliyente pod labi na ang ilang pamilya nga nagpaabot sa ilang mga padala (I really have to help financially and also help the clients, especially their families, who are waiting for them to send money)," she said.
As a precaution, she follows the government's constant reminder to be one step ahead of the Covid-19 through proper hand washing and taking vitamins.
For Kate Denolang, a print reporter, her everyday challenge, aside from the lack of public transportation, is to find fresh angles on how to present the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the health risk of going out of the house to gather news, her desire to educate the public and help them make informed decisions amid the rampant spread of fake news on the internet prevails.
Celso Navarette, head guard of a retail store in Mandaue City, shared to SunStar Cebu that though doing a temperature check on every person who comes into their store could be exhausting, he unceasingly does it for everyone's safety.
"Poy-poy pod siya, puli puli lang kamot pero okay ra kay kami man ang pulis-pulis sa among kompaniya (It’s tiring so I just let my two hands take turns but its okay because we are like cops in our companies)," Navarette said.
His only hope, he said, is for this crisis to come to an end. (WBS)