Joy Belmonte denies neglect of QC barangays under special concern lockdown

The residents of the two barangays which have been placed on special concern lockdown by the Quezon City government are being adequately taken care of, Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Wednesday.

Belmonte made the remark after some residents of Barangay Culiat and Barangay Baesa lamented their plight, saying they had little food and had been locked down for too long. 

Belmonte told GMA News Online that communities were “especially risky because of the proximity of the houses to one another and the impossibility of self isolation and high likelihood of close contact.”

“As per advice of our CESU, the communities should be under lockdown for two weeks so the disease can live out its course and extensive testing can be conducted to all residents,” Belmonte said.

Contrary to the claims of some residents, Belmonte said the two communities had been given “so much food” by the barangay, the city government and private sectors, which was good for more than two weeks.

“Their other needs are also being addressed,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte also said the residents in Barangay Culiat had not been in lockdown for almost two weeks.

She said they are still currently on their second week, while the lockdown in Barangay Baesa had just started.

“It’s not true that they do not know how long the lockdown will be because their respective barangays have oriented them and have told them why they are on lockdown,” Belmonte said.

As per the punong barangay, Belmonte said the lockdown in Barangay Culiat began on May 18.

She added it is also possible to extend the lockdown beyond 14 days if cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the area after the massive testing. -NB, GMA News