KIDAPAWAN CITY ––“The response of the people of North Cotabato is overwhelming and we are happy they are throwing full support,” this was the happy opening statement of Dr. Philbert Malaluan, North Cotabato Board member and Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) spokesperson to Newsline on Sunday May 30.
Malaluan said the IATF reverted back the quarantine status from Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) to General Community Quarantine following the surge of Coronavirus cases in the province and to avert the rising cases, “We need to tighten our measures”.
As of May 30, the provincial health office recorded 61 new cases.
Malaluan said when the government relaxed the policies relative to the entry of people in the province, in the hope that they will self-regulate and observe minimum health protocol , “It turned out that they relaxed even the observance of health protocol. They get out of the province and when they returned, they were not aware that they have been infected and local transmission started”.
Aside from the No Movement Sunday, Malaluan said they will also require a negative RT-PCR test result released within 72-hours for one to be allowed entry.
North Cotabato, home for 1,379,747 residents (per PSA 2015 survey), registered only 18 violators to the ‘No Movement Sunday’ from Kidapawan City.
Based on the Executive Order No. 29, issued by North Cotabato Governor Nancy A. Catamco, only pharmacies, hospitals and gasoline stations were allowed to open but farmers who need to plant, harvest and visit their field for maintenance are exempted under the EO.
Starting May 30 to June 30, North Cotabato implements the No Movement Sunday.
North Cotabato Provincial Police director Police Colonel Henry Villar told Newsline “We tightened our borders “Because we want to prevent further infection.”
The government hospital bed dedicated for Covid-19 patients “Are overwhelmed and we need to act to avert further complications,” Malaluan emphasized.
Villar for his part said the PNP NoCot has adopted a system to quickly notice and monitor fake or falsified RT-PCR test results.
All persons passing the boundary towards next province will be monitored via their online system, Villar added.-Editha Z. Caduaya
