‘Stringent restrictions’ should remain in Cebu City –Galvez

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. backed the enforcement of stringent safety measures in Cebu City to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Cebu City has been on lockdown since last week due to a spike in infections, with President Rodrigo Duterte expected to announce on Tuesday the quarantine measures to be implemented in July.

“We don’t want to pre-empt iyong pronouncement ni Presidente, [pero] nakikita namin talaga kailangan pa ng stringent restrictions. Kasi na-find out namin na noong nag-ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] sila, hindi ito properly implemented,” Galvez, the chief implementer of the Philippines’ COVID-19 response, said in a televised briefing.

“That is why [Interior Secretary Eduardo] General Año was prompted to deploy more SAF [Special Action Force] forces there in Cebu City. Sa ngayon maganda iyong alignment ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, LGU [local government unit] at saka iyong PNP [Philippine National Police].”

Galvez said the national government was monitoring the situation in 19 barangays under “strict lockdown.”

“Gumagamit pa tayo ng drone at saka helicopters para at least ma-supervise nating mabuti iyong implementation ng mga restrictions,” he said.

Duterte earlier designated Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to oversee government efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city, which has so far reported nearly 5,800 cases.

Año said on Monday that Cebu City was likely the new epicenter of the pandemic in the country. — DVM, GMA News