This Week in Bacolod (April 26 to May 2, 2020)

The City of Bacolod has adopted an odd-even scheme for home quarantine passes (HQPs). Issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Executive Order (EO) No. 30 states that people with HQPs ending in odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 can only leave the house on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Meanwhile, people with passes ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 0 can go out only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Nobody is allowed to go out on Sundays except for those rendering essential government services, medical workers, people involved in the movement of goods and cargoes, and those who need medical assistance [1].

Following the number coding scheme for HQPs in Bacolod are cars with Provincial Passes to regulate the number of cars entering and exiting the city. Under EO No. 31, cars with plate numbers ending in odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 can exit/enter on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For cars with plate numbers ending in even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0 can enter/exit on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Sundays, cars cannot enter or exit the city.

Thermal scanning upon entry and exit shall be done and social distancing shall be observed inside vehicles. However, the city will not hamper the entry and exit of government officials and its component local government units (LGUs); they can enter the city even on Sundays [2].

Seafood, fruits, poultry, meat, and vegetables are now easier to access especially for people with limited to no means of transportation during the enhanced community quarantine. Stationed mobile markets can be found around the city, while some answer to online deliveries within the city. Below is a list of mobile markets and their contact details.

1. Iskay Seafoods Mobile Market

Contact number: 0949 991 6330

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ISKAY-seafoods-Mobile-Market-107965667535128/

2. Mercado Online Delivery

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mercadoonlinedelivery/

3. Seafoods on Wheels

Contact number: 0933 039 3031

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Seafoods-on-wheels-108598330770781/

4. Bolante 034 Mobile Market

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bolante-034-110687277261487/

46,000 households from cities and municipalities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Bago, Murcia, and Salvador Benedicto will benefit from the “Pantawid Liwanag” program by the CENECO. This program is geared towards marginalized consumers whose income prioritizes food sustenance during the coronavirus crisis. For the month of April, the electricity bills of these households, specifically those of consumers with a consumption of 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and below, will be waived [3].

Two hospitals and a pharmacy in Bacolod now offer delivery services for people in need of immune boosters and medicines. Should you need to purchase medicine, check out these hospitals and their contact information:

1. Adventist Medical Center - Bacolod

Contact numbers: 034 488 7777 / 0939 459 8599 / 0906 028 6881 [4]

2. Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital - Riverside Pharmacy

Contact numbers: 034 432 7676 / 0920 412 7402 / 0998 333 4933 / 0939 459 2964 / 0945 441 1271 / 0933 330 0660 [5]

3. Grace Pharmacy

La Salle branch: 0939 465 8006 / 0929 223 0957 / 0977 684 4106 / 0977 684 4304

City Heights branch: 0939 465 8109 / 0918 554 4879 / 0945 324 2177 / 0945 324 2121 [6]

The Bacolod City Health Office released an updated report on the total COVID-19 cases in the city. As of April 20, there are seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 patients: one admitted, five on home quarantine, and one death. There are also two recoveries. Meanwhile, there are 117 still waiting for their results and 35 persons under monitoring (PUMs) actively monitored by the government. 2,528 PUMs have already completed their 14-day quarantine. Lastly, there are three persons under investigation (PUIs) in the city [7].

WHO Director General Tedros Afhanom Ghebreyesus warned country leaders that “the worst is yet ahead of us” as some countries are easing restrictive measures against COVID-19. Although Tedros did not specify why the coronavirus could get worse, some people believe that it will cause an alarming spread in Africa where the health care systems are least developed. In a report from John Hopkins University, the virus has infected almost 2.5 million and killed over 116,000 people around the world. Tedros urged the country leaders to not to lift restrictions and lockdowns too quickly, also indicating that the coronavirus is similar to the Spanish flu in 1918 that killed 100 million people [8].

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Bacolod.