Cebu City residents urged not to abuse QPass suspension

CEBU, Philippines — With the Misa de Gallo kicking off today, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella appealed to residents not to abuse the temporary suspension of quarantine passes in the city.

He reminded residents that the city decided to suspend the quarantine pass purposely to give the public a chance to join the dawn Masses, a long standing tradition among Catholics.

“Hangyuon ko kamo, atong gi-suspend ang implementation sa QPass para kamong tanan makahigayon sa pagsimba, so dili unta ni nato abusuhan,” Labella said yesterday.

“I ask you not to abuse because we suspended the implementation of the Qpass so that you will get to attend the Mass.)

“Human sa misa, uli nalang kamo sa balay kung wa na gyu'y laing importanteng tuyo, unless essential gyud kaayo. Para nga atong mapatunhay ang atong flattening of the curve, ang atong maayo kaayo karon nga quarantine situation,” he added.

(After the Mass, unless you have very important things to do outside, go straight home. We have to sustain the flattening of the curve and our very good quarantine situation.)

The mayor earlier issued the executive order establishing the guidelines on the observance of the Misa de Gallo in all churches in the city.

As stated in the EO, quarantine passes in Cebu City will be suspended temporarily from December 15 to 25, 2020.

“The requirement of city-issued Quarantine Passes (QPass) shall be temporarily suspended starting 12:01 A.M. of December 15, 2020 until 11:59 P.M. of December 25, 2020,” reads Section 2 (K) of Executive Order No. 111.

Labella said the implementation of the quarantine passes is among the reasons why the city was able to flatten the curve, and its temporary suspension is a reminder for people to be more responsible and circumspect.

“Ako gyu'ng hangyuon. Let us not be complacent, let us see to it that we observe the minimum health protocols,” Labella said.

(I am asking you – let us not be complacent. Let us see to it that we observe the minimum health protocols.)

Based on records of the Department of Health (DOH)-7, the city recorded only two new COVID-19 cases on November 14, Monday, bringing the total active cases to 166.

Cebu City has been under modified general community quarantine since September.

Maximum tolerance

At the Cebu City Police Office, Director Josefino Ligan said the police will implement maximum tolerance in enforcing security regulations at churches.

A total of 700 personnel from the city government and the CCPO will monitor the churches for the Misa de Gallo.

“Kung magpagahi gyud sila, ana nata mulihok. Naa man tay violation sa ilaha, kaning disobedience (to authorities) sa Article 151, pero kung mahimo pasabton, tungod kay pasko, kinahanglan magmalipayon pud, ug sakto lang sa pag-istorya, para mapsabot sa ila nga i-maintain ang minimum health standard protocol,” Ligan said.

(We will act accordingly if they refuse to follow rules because, then, they would be guilty of disobedience to authorities. But, as much as possible, especially because it’s Christmas, we will talk to them properly and explain to them that they must follow minimum health protocols.)

The 700 personnel will be divided into two teams – one for the dawn Masses and the other team for the evening Masses.

The security forces from PROBE (Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement) Team, Task Force Kasaligan, and PNP personnel will man the entrances of churches. Church management personnel will determine the sitting capacity inside the church.

Ligan said that once the allowable capacity at churches is reached, the police personnel will help ensure no more people will be allowed to enter.  — Iris Hazel M. Mascardo /JMO (FREEMAN)