Tondo to be placed under ‘hard lockdown’ within the week

Manila is eyeing to place Tondo under a hard lockdown within the week, Mayor Isko Moreno said. 

According to Chino Gaston's report on 24 Oras, Tondo is among the city's districts which has a high number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

The city earlier also placed Sampaloc district under total lockdown for 48 hours.

"Marami tayo dapat i-consider. Unang-una, 'yung katayuan ng mga bahay sa Tondo, ilan ang pamilya sa isang bahay, 'yun bang sila'y may makakain sa oras ng lockdown," Moreno said.

The mayor said they are also studying the impact of the total lockdown on the economic activities in Tondo, as cargoes entering and leaving Manila port pass through the area.

"Halos plantsado na 'yung plano. Doon na lamang kami sa ilan pang kailangan naming gawin bilang siyudad at konting tulong na puwede namin maibigay sa ating mga kababayan na maiipit sa lockdown," Moreno said.

Tondo, which is divided into Tondo 1 and Tondo 2, has an estimated population of 630,000 based on the 2015 population census.

Residents said they expected the lockdown and are already preparing for it.

"Actually, nag-aannounce na si chairman, nag-iikot 'yung mga tanod at sinasabing kung kailangan mamili, mamili na. Actually, ano na kami, aware kami na kung magkakaroon ng ano hindi kami mahihirapan," a resident said.

"Okay lang po, okay lang po. Basta ikakabuti ng lahat para matapos na 'yung lahat na 'yan," another resident added.

Similar to the hard lockdown in Sampaloc, local authorities will conduct targeted mass testing in the district using a hospital that will serve as a testing center.

According to the Manila Health Department, there are 94 and 61 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tondo 1 and Tondo 2, respectively,

The city of Manila has a total of 644 confirmed cases and 1,009 suspected patients.  Fatalities were recorded at 60 and recoveries at 89.  —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News