CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Oscar Moreno has opposed the lockdown of a business complex filled with Chinese nationals as a precautionary measure against the spread of 2019-nCoV (novel Corona virus).
“You don’t order lockdown simply because of the race issue. It’s not doable. What we need is simply communication, and, of course, they have been very cooperative,” Moreno said in an interview Tuesday (Feb. 4).
Moreno’s reaction came after city councilor George Goking proposed to the newly-created City Health Office-led multi-agency nCoV Task Force to order a lockdown on the Alwana Business Park in Barangay Cugman.
Chinese nationals, most of whom are granted employment visa, are living in the business park’s residential buildings.
Goking said the Task Force did not really push through with the idea due to legal implications, but he will request it if the Alwana Business Park management will refuse to cooperate with government agencies who may be conducting an ocular inspection there.
Moreno said he was not keen on restricting the movement of people and vehicles in and out of the complex just because Chinese nationals are living there.
“Just because they are Chinese, we have to look at them differently. Let’s not jump to conclusions,” he said.
The 2019-nCoV originated in Wuhan, China and has spread in different countries including the Philippines. (davaotoday.com)
