Photo by: Benjamin Pulta

Six more LGUs were given the green light by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (RIATF-EID XII) as they receive concurrence to their requests to implement zoning containment strategies in certain areas of their communities with Covid-19 cases.

During the regular virtual meeting of the Body on September 30, DILG XII Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, confirmed that based on RIATF Omnibus Resolution 2020-032 dated September 30, 2020, six (6) LGUs in Region XII will be placed under localized lockdown, with varying dates and duration, “subject to the recommendations of the screening and validation team”. 

In the Municipality of Kalamansig in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Puroks Orchids, Malipayon, Santan and Chrismus of Brgy. Cadiz have been on localized lockdown from September 22 until October 6, 2020. Tacurong City’s Purok Saranay in Barangay San Pablo, was placed under lockdown from September 23 to October 8 and National Highway, still in Brgy. San Pablo, was on lockdown from September 26 to October 2.  In Brgy. New Carmen, Tacurong City, the Puroks of Talipapa, National Highway and Malipayon are on lockdown from September 26-October 2. The barangay road going to the Integrated Terminal in Brgy. New Isabela has been in lockdown from September 26 until October 2, 2020. 

In South Cotabato, the Municipality of Surallah placed a specific compound in Gomez Street, Brgy. Libertad on lockdown from September 20 – October 4, 2020 while in Koronadal City, the entire area of Barangay Sta. Cruz and Twin River West in Brgy. Sto. Nino are also placed on lockdown from September 27 to October 4, 2020 to give way to contact tracing activities.

Meanwhile, Purok 5B in Brgy. Poblacion, Antipas, Cotabato Province has been on lockdown since September 22 until October 6, 2020 and Zones 2,3,4,and 5 in Brgy. Presbitero in Pigcawayan have been in lockdown from September 25 until October 9.

Dir. Leysa explains further that the RIATF-RTF are unanimous in their view that such zoning containment strategies must be implemented in the foregoing LGUs, and especially in this health emergency situation, local officials have the “authority to determine and declare zoning containment strategies and localized lockdown, depending on preset parameters, including the existence of suspected, probable or confirmed Covid-19 cases.”