Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte called on Dabawenyos to prepare for a return to the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on July 15, 2020 — with stricter health and movement restrictions are expected to be observed.

Mayor Sara made this call after receiving advance information from the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that Davao City will be reverted to GCQ starting Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

Mayor Sara, however, said she will be appealing to the IATF to reconsider the quarantine classification of Davao City. Davao City currently is under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

In the meantime, the mayor advised Dabawenyos to review the latest version of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines issued on July 2, 2020.

“Kung ma deny gihapon ang appeal nga magpabilin ta og MGCQ, may I request everyone nga duna tay July 2 nga version sa Omnibus Guidelines nga atoa lang i-review, pasadahan nato kung unsa tong GCQ para mahinumdom ta kung unsa atoang kinahanglan buhaton during a GCQ. So maayo nang mangandam ta daan for a status nga GCQ. (If our appeal to remain under MGCQ is denied, I request everyone to review the July 2 version of our Omnibus guidelines, go over the guidelines under GCQ so we remember what we should do during a GCQ. We should get ready for a GCQ status),” Mayor Sara said in a live interview over the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday.

The guidelines on GCQ is under Section 4 of the Omnibus Guidelines that include limiting of in-dining services to 30 percent capacity only and prohibiting entertainment establishments like comedy bars and karaoke to operate and mass gatherings with more than ten (10) people.

Davao City the past weeks saw the continued rise in coronavirus cases. Based on the latest data from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao City has 162 active positive cases, the highest number of active cases since the Covid-19 outbreak started in March this year. The number of recoveries is at 382 and 35 deaths.

Given the still increasing cases and in the absence of anti-Covid vaccine, Dabawenyos are reminded to stay at home except when buying food and medicine; wash hands frequently, social distancing, and wear masks whenever they go out of their homes. CIO