Davao de Oro has been declared under community mandatory quarantine in response to the threat caused by COVID-19.
“Since our first confirmed or positive case in Davao Region is from Davao de Oro, we deemed (it) very important to preempt the escalation of the spread of the disease,” Davao de Oro Governor Tyron Uy said in an interview with 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio.
Uy signed Executive Order No. 023 Series of 2020 on Monday, March 16, officially declaring the partial lockdown of the whole province. It means movements will be restricted to minimize the damage caused by the virus. He encouraged all people to stay at home as much as possible.
He also said that municipality mayors are instructed to have their own executive orders to operationalize the guidelines.
“This is also in response to the (partial) lockdown set by Davao City and Tagum City. We understand upon the declaration of lockdowns, they just want to protect their people,” he said.
“Same thing here with us, we cannot let people to go in and out of our province so that we can contain the disease here in our province. That’s why we decided to also partially lockdown our province,” he added.
Davao de Oro, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), has also declared the province under the state of calamity to utilize the calamity fund for preparedness amid the virus threat.
The EO has set the following guidelines:
• All vehicles both private and public and passengers travelling from neighboring provinces and cities are prohibited from entering Davao de Oro, except for medical and peace and order personnel, and other allied government employees;
• Public and private vehicles coming from neighboring provinces and cities that will pass through Davao de Oro while en route to their final destination will be escorted in groups by marshals of PNP/AFP/SCAA to the border checkpoint where they will exit;
• No public or private vehicles coming from other cities and provinces will be allowed to pass through Davao de Oro after 24 hours from effectivity of the EO;
• Transport vehicles with accompanying personnel carrying agricultural products (livestock, poultry, and other agricultural inputs), including foods and essential medicine supplies are permitted to pass through the entry and exit points of Davao de Oro and be provided with a special lane to prevent the delay of service delivery, given that proper documents are presented upon entry and exit. They should also comply to the health sanitation precautionary measures set by the government;
• All passengers of incoming public and private vehicles who are residents of Davao de Oro who are returning to this province must present a valid government issued authentication, such as voter’s ID, employee’s ID, school ID, and they should register at the checkpoints. Non-residents coming into the province for legitimate and valid purposes shall present their IDs and register themselves and vehicle and/or transportation they use;
• The pricelist for all important commodities shall be closely monitored by the Department of Trade and Industry to prevent price escalation;
• Emergency vehicles are authorized to pass through and enter Davao de Oro, provided that they are marked or identified as COVID-19 Task Force Vehicle, they shall be granted with a fast lane treatment in order to expedite health services.
• Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable personalities being more susceptible to the possibility of getting the virus are encouraged to stay at home;
• Everyone shall stay in their respective homes and may only come out to work, to buy food, essential medicine supplies and toiletries, go to to the hospital or take out garbage. It is also encouraged that the households shall maintain cleanliness and, if possible, disinfect their respective houses;
• With respect to all public open areas (park, plaza, schools, churches, markets, barangay halls, barangay multi-purpose halls and others) within the province, the local government units are required to closely impose cleanliness;
• There shall suspension of classes in all levels, both public and private schools/colleges until further notice, with that all students are required to stay at home;
• All religious activities that requires mass gatherings shall be suspended, however it is encouraged that everyone may still exercise their religious beliefs in their own houses;
• Government transactions and services of the provincial government will still continue, but with strict observance of the required precautionary measures provided by the Department of Health;
• Employees in the private sector and government employees under the Civil Service Commission shall continue their usual work and are hereby required to implement alternative working arrangement to impose social distancing between and among employees including their clients;
• Davao de Oro has also implemented curfew hours in all barangays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Also, Uy said that business establishments may continue their transactions. He also encouraged companies to employ flexible schedules to protect their employees. They should also provide handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers.
Violators may face a penalty ranging from P10,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year.
