Barangay Suba workers positive for COVID-19, chief calls for help

The Fish Port in Barangay Suba will be indefinitely closed starting midnight because of the rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the barangay. | CDN file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Barangay Suba is the home of one of the most important fish ports in Cebu city providing one of the major sources of seafood in the city.

However, with the rising cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Suba Barangay Captain Joel “Jojo” Sable told CDN Digital that it was high time to close it.

The major reason for the closure of  the fish port was the lack of manpower to secure it as Sable said at least 20 workers of the barangay were found to be positive of the virus.

“Nagkuwang na gyod mig tawo sa barangay. Lima o unom ka tanod ang nipositibo. Lisod na kaayo sa amoa motrabaho sa kadaghan pung nipositibo sa mga sitio,” said Sable in a phone interview.

(We lack the manpower. At least five or six tanods were found positive of the virus. It is difficult to work with the many cases in the sitios.)

Suba recorded 109 new cases on May 2, 2020, raising its total number of cases to 124.

Most of these are from areas surrounding the Suba Fish Port such as Abellana Street, General Gines Street, Belgium Street, Magsaysay Street, and Sto. Niño Street.

Read more: Suba folks worry that COVID-19 infection will worsen their poverty

Sable said he had asked the city government and Mayor Edgardo Labella to close down the fish port for the safety of the residents.

“Kasabot man ko sa mayor nga mahadlok ta nga magkuwang atong isda, pero lisod naman gyod ang kahimtang. Amo nang gisaka sa mayor nga kailangan na gyod sirad-an ang fish port,” said Sable.

(We understand the mayor is concerned that there will be a shortage of the supply of seafood, but the situation is dire. We already asked the mayor to close the fish port.)

Read more: Labella orders temporary closure of Suba Fish Port, Pasil Fish Market

Mayor Edgardo Labella responded immediately closing the fish port starting midnight today indefinitely.

“The closure will give way to the massive disinfection, contact tracing and COVID-19 testing activities of the Cebu City government in the area. We ask for your support and understanding as we unite to fight this invisible enemy,” said the mayor.

Meanwhile, Sable said there was no barangay isolation center (BIC) in Suba and the positive patients would need to be transferred to Duljo for isolation.

The transfer can be difficult for the residents, but the barangay tries to help despite the lack of manpower.

Sable urged kind-hearted individuals to donate food, underwear, vitamins, and drinking water to the patients because these were what they needed the most.

Suba is not the only barangay with new cases on May 2, 2020 as the City Health Department revealed eight new cases in  Centro, Barangay Mambaling; one case in Upper Bacayan, and another case in Sitio Lusimba, Barangay Poblacion Pardo.

Cebu City recorded 119 cases new cases on May 2, 2020, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 879. /dbs