REWARD awaits clusters with lowest coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced in a radio interview on Wednesday, April 22.
Duterte-Carpio said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio that the winning cluster, which will have the lowest number of positive cases after May 31, will receive 10,000 Jollibee Chickenjoy and 10,000 bottles of one-liter Coke.
The mayor’s contest was in response to the Davao City Clustering System, which was divided into six clusters as part of the city government’s response against the widespread of the Covid-19 cases in the city.
The clustering system made rounds on social media, wherein a Facebook group named Davao Cluster War (Tambal Kamingaw) was created after the issued “District Clustering” scheme to all food and medicine pass holders.
Various online posts boasting their different clusters, through memes and jingles, had also caught attention by the mayor.
While the mayor said there is nothing wrong with the supposed “cluster wars” as it is meant to entertain the public amid the Covid-pandemic.
However, the mayor encouraged them to make use of it to help the government in preventing the further increase of Covid-19 cases in the city.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. Pero gusto unta nako ni mahimong positive (But I wanted the public to make use of this into a positive way),” Duterte-Carpio said.
She also said, “Magbuhat mo og pamaagi nga... dili mutaas inyong positive cases diraa sa inyong lugar (You find a way that the positive cases within your cluster would not further increase)”.
Among the advocacies the clusters could help disseminate are following the strict protocols imposed by the government, including practicing social distancing, wearing of face masks while going out, and frequent washing of hands with soap and water.
She also said it is alright for them to be competitive, as it would further encourage them.
“Okay ra pud na okrayon ang pikas cluster para maningkamot sila na dili mosaka ilang Covid-19 cases. Usahay need jud nato na sila i-push (It’s okay that we would tease other clusters so they would be encouraged to stop the further rising of Covid-19 cases in their area. We, sometimes, need to push them to do their effort.),” Duterte-Carpio said
The clustering system took effect at 12:01 a.m. of April 20. This is on top of the number coding system of the food and medicine (FM) pass, which will be implemented within the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The ECQ is set to expire on April 26.
Among the clusters, Cluster 1 (Poblacion A and B and Talomo District) has the highest number of confirmed cases at 43, followed by Cluster 3 (Buhangin District) with 23.
Cluster 2, made up of the barangays of Agdao District; and Cluster 4 (Toril District) have six cases each; Cluster 5, composed of Calinan, Baguio, Marilog, Tugbok and some barangays of Paquibato; and Cluster 6 (Bunawan, some barangays of Paquibato and the Island Garden City of Samal) have three cases each.
She emphasized the need for a clustering system to prevent the people from roaming around the city, especially from traversing in Covid-19 “hotspot” areas.