Two women walk past the establishment in San Pedro Street, which was closed due to the pandemic. (Mar. 20, 2019)A patrol car partially blocks the road as ECQ takes effect. (April 4,2019)
IT WAS a year that started with expectations of better times, after the series of devastating earthquakes in the last quarter of 2019 that affected the region and its neighboring towns.
Araw ng Dabaw, the city’s celebration of its Founder’s Day, was cut short by reports that the novel coronavirus that was sweeping Wuhan, China and HongKong in December 2019, could have crossed to other countries like never before due to the present days’ connectedness. By February 2020, the report of possible transmission in the country reached a high note and since the science behind the virus was not yet explained, including how to effectively combat it, most of the countries closed its borders and lockdowns were imposed.
In Davao City, the Enhanced Community Quarantine was imposed on April 2. By then, there were many reports of transmission, including deaths.
Mindanao Times presents these images of 2020 not only to remind us of what transpired last year, but as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit even in times of great calamities. Under an unseen and ferocious enemy, people assert their will to survive and to do that best they can under the circumstances.
Photos by Bing Gonzales. This production of this special report was made possible with support from the Information Saves Lives project of Internews.
A man walks past the city hall building with its façade showingCOVID-19 by protocols. (Dec. 11, 2019)Businesses along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue shut down during the imposition of the ECQ. Slowly, some establishments are opening for business under the MGCQ.To prevent the spread of COVID 19, people entering the Bankerohan public market wash their hands before getting inside. (Mar. 26,2019)
As children are not allowed to go out of their homes, health workers of Barangay 28-C do the house-to-house polio vaccination. (July 22,2019)
Vendors wait for customers at Bankerohan public market.A vendor of coal for cooking had some repacking at Bankerohan public market.A woman makes boxes for pizza in a restaurant along Bolton Street.Ambulant vendor walks through the streets selling kakanin “bitso-bitso”.A security guard of SPMC isolation facility stands next to posters about COVID-19 information including its prevention measures.A jeepney driver looks for other passengers to fill the PUJ’s limited seating capacity.
People walk along theSan Pedro Street wearing face masks and face shields as part of the required health protocols in public places. Dec. 14
With the continuing cases of COVID-19 in the city, health protocols are posted outside business establishments and public spaces. People are constantly reminded to follow these protocols, not only through posters but in public announcements through roving vehicles, as well.
