SOME residents of Barangay 21-C and 23-C have reported that they are facing discrimination following the lockdown of some puroks in their areas.
On Tuesday evening, April 21, the Davao City Government placed puroks 3, 4, and 7 of Barangay 23-C and Purok 8 of Barangay 21-C on lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In a statement issued on the evening of April 21, the City Government placed 56 individuals from the three puroks in Barangay 23-C under quarantine in one of the PUI (patients under investigation) centers of the city.
Barangay 23-C captain Wating Usman told VoxPop Davao he had personally been receiving reports from his constituents that some grocery stores, convenience stores, and even banks are barring residents from two barangays, despite being excluded from the imposed lockdown.
Usman cited misinformation in social media as one of the factors that had stirred confusion to some.
He specifically mentioned that only puroks 3-A, 4-C, and 7 of Barangay 23-C are under lockdown.
"Kung tan-awon nato, dili man tanan sa Barangay 23-C apektado. Naa rama'y specific nga purok ang na-lockdown. So, di ta mag comment ug mag react dayon nga the whole barangay ang gi-lockdown (Not the whole of Barangay 23-C is affected with the virus. Those that are affected are the puroks that are on lockdown. So, it is not right to comment or post reactions saying that the whole barangay is on lockdown)," Usman said in a phone interview.
Usman also asked the public not to criticize them for supposedly neglecting their duties, which resulted in the lockdown.
"Pasalamat mo wala mo maapektuhan sa inyohang barangay. Hinaot unta nga i-apil nalang mi ninyo og ampo, nga masulbad na tanan hilabi na diria sa Barangay 23 (You should be thankful that your barangay is not affected. We hope that you would, instead, include us in your prayers, that this problem in Barangay 23 will end soon)," he said.
Aicelle, who requested not to reveal her real name, a Barangay 23-C resident, said she personally experienced it first hand after being barred entry in a nearby grocery store.
"Confused me sa groceries ug palengke, dili me pasudlon unsaon nalang among pamilya among pagkaon [sic] (The policies being implemented by groceries and the market are confusing us. They would not let us in. How then can we provide food for our family?)," Aicelle said in a Messenger chat interview.
Some residents of both barangays raised their concerns during a live radio interview of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday afternoon, April 22.
However, Duterte-Carpio already clarified that the city did not issue any guidelines to establishments preventing those from the two barangays to enter their establishments.
Barangay 21-C captain Edmundo Altizo already clarified and settled the issue with nearby establishments, including public markets, and they had already addressed the complaints.
Altizo said there is no need for them to issue any barangay certification to residents who wish to go to these establishments.
Although he said, "Kung unsa'y kinahanglanon nila, if kinahanglan nila og certification nga nagpamatuod, then tagaan nato sila (Upon their request, we can provide them with a certification to prove they are not residing in the purok where there is a lockdown)," he said.
Both barangay captains said that FM passes in puroks in their barangays where there is no lockdown, can still be used. However, they need to follow the coding scheme.
Usman said they will be providing relief goods to an estimated 1,000 residents of 23-C who are under lockdown.
Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, said the lockdown will take effect for 14 days, and checkpoints in the purok borders will be strictly monitored by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Task Force Davao. She added there will be a "no entry, no exit" policy in these areas, and residents will be discouraged from roaming around within their puroks.
The mayor also said FM passes in these areas will be invalid during the duration of the lockdown.
She also assured that the city will be providing relief goods to residents affected by the lockdown.
