Provincial LGUs of Region XII are set to implement the unified curfew hours from 9:00 in the evening until 5:00 in the morning starting today, March 23, 2020, to help prevent the spreading of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

This was outlined in the approved Joint Resolution No. 2020-04 enjoining all local government units in the region to impose a uniform curfew hours to help curb and contain the disease. Members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) gathered in a meeting held at Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol in Isulan last March 18, 2020.

This unified curfew hours is part of the Councils’ “cohesive approach” in battling the pandemic that has put the country under a national health crisis. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte earlier signed Proclamation No. 929 declaring the country under State of Calamity for six months due to COVID-19.

Prior to the approval of the said resolution, local government units in the Region have already implemented community quarantines, pre-emptive lockdown or instituted curfew hours in their respective areas of responsibilities as means to curb the spread of the virus.

The uniform curfew hours will last until April 12, 2020 “or until the state of public health emergency is lifted”, the RPOC and RDRRMC said.

DILG XII, through Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, hopes that all LGUs in the Region will strictly follow the said new curfew hours starting today and enhance their monitoring efforts for the identified patients under monitoring (PUM) and patients under investigation (PUI) from their respective jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, Director Leysa urged the public to stay at home or follow strict physical distancing if going out is unavoidable. Those who have travel histories from places with positive COVID-19 cases are also advised to do the 14-day self-quarantine and honestly divulge their travel histories to medical workers for proper tracking and response. ###