The Quezon City local government has placed four religious facilities under lockdown due to high number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

Based on the report of the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (QCESU) there is a recent outbreak in Christ the King Mission Seminary, where almost half of its population has been infected. Out of the 59 individuals in the seminary, 25 tested positive for the virus.

As of September 18, eleven of these positive cases have recovered, 13 remain active, and one has succumbed to COVID-19.

QCESU Chief Dr. Rolando Cruz reported that the seminary’s Villa Cristo Rey and Fininman Building have bee placed under Special Concern Lockdown (SCL) since September 18.

The temporary closure of Christ the King Mission Seminary brings the total number of religious facilities in the city under lockdown to four. The other three are  Stella Maris Convent (since September 10); Religious of the Virgin Mary (since September 14) and Convent of the Holy Spirit which has been under lockdown since September 15.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government has started creating a set of guidelines on ventilation for buildings and workplaces to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. AAC

MANILA, Philippines —  The city of Navotas received the highest rating from state auditors, according to Mayor Toby Tiangco.

In his announcement on Thursday evening (August 19) on Twitter, the city Mayor attached a copy of the statement from the Commission on Audit (COA) on the audit findings for Navotas city.

“The Auditor rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of presentation of the financial statements of the City,” the statement said, signed by COA Regional Director IV Omar Roque.

Tiangco said it was the sixth time the city received such a rating from COA.

“Ito ang pinakamataas na audit rating na ibinibigay sa mga ahensya at tanggapan ng gobyerno. Sa buong Metro Manila, tayo lamang ang LGU na may ganitong record,” he said.

He added that the city managed to push through some of its important projects even under tight budget as it needed to shift its resources to COVID response.

“Hindi po naging madali ang nakalipas na taon dahil kinailangan nating ihinto ang ilan sa ating mga proyekto at programa para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng lungsod laban sa COVID-19,” he said.

“Pinilit nating mapag-abot ang maliit nating budget para matugunan ito at patuloy pa ring makapaghatid ng de-kalidad na serbisyo,” he added.

The mayor vows to maintain the city’s high performance rating which he said he owes to the people of Navotas.

Sa ika-anim na pagkakataon, nakatanggap po tayo ng “Unmodified Opinion” mula sa COA. Ito ang pinakamataas na audit rating na ibinibigay sa mga ahensya at tanggapan ng gobyerno. Sa buong Metro Manila, tayo lamang ang LGU na may ganitong record. pic.twitter.com/vD1CqhDyCo

— Toby Tiangco (@TobyTiangco) August 19, 2021

MANILA, Philippines – Mayor Toby Tiangco of Navotas City announced placing Barangays Tanza 1 and 2 under lockdown due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 infection in the said areas.

In his Facebook post, the city mayor noted an increase in infection rate after 25 percent who underwent the latest mass testing turned out positive for COVID-19.

“Bagaman may ECQ na sa August 6, kinailangan nating maglockdown para mahinto ang mabilis na hawaan,” Tiangco said.

The Mayor reminds all residents of concerned barangays to remain indoors and submit to swab testing.

“Sinumang magpositibo ay dadalhin agad sa community isolation facility. Bibigyan din ng relief packs ang mga pamilyang apektado,” he said.

Meanwhile, essential workers in areas under lockdown will be allowed to go out until August 5 provided that they have not been in close contact with a positive case.

They will be required to present a valid company ID, certificate of employment, or a business or permit from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Tiangco stressed that once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) takes effect on August 6, only those considered as Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR)  by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will be allowed.

While under lockdown and ECQ, residents in Barangay Tanza 1 will be allowed access to the market during Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays while residents of Barangay Tanza 2 are allowed every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

On August 6, ECQ policies will be imposed, Tiangco said.

“Hindi po natin gusto ang lockdown; mahirap ito para sa ating lahat. Ngunit kailangan po ito para sa ikabubuti ng bawat isa,” he added. “Hinihingi po namin ang iyong lubos na suporta at kooperasyon. Pakikiisa ang tatapos sa pandemya.”