MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – A year ago today, March 16, Lapu-Lapu City was placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) following the discovery of COVID-19 cases.
Mayor Junard Chan said that his decision to place his city under GCQ was a difficult decision to make, but it was what was necessary then.
“Subo pamalandungon nga mao ang atong nahiaguman pero mao kadto ang nag-inusarang paagi para malikayan ang pagkuyanap sa COVID nga mao usab ang lakang nga gihimo sa laing nasod,” he said in a post on his Facebook page.
(It is sad to note that we had to go through that experience but that was the only way to prevent the spread of COVID in our city, a measure that was also implemented in other countries.)
“Dili ikalimod nga mas bug-at ang gibilin niining kadaot sa atong syudad pero mas bug-at ang atong naani nga mga pagtulon-an gikan sa panghitabo,” he added.
(We cannot deny the massive damage that it caused but what is more important are the lessons that we learned from the pandemic.)
In June 2020, Chan tested positive for COVID-19. His sister, Grace Carungay, the head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Department, also had the infection in February 2021.
READ: Lapu-Lapu mayor’s sister tests positive for COVID-19
Chan is asking Oponganons to join him in commemorating the first anniversary of the GCQ’s implementation in their city by inviting them to recall their most unforgettable experiences and how they survived the pandemic.
He is also offering cash prizes ranging from P5, 000 to P500 to 10 Oponganons who will be able to share the most unique experiences.
The announcement of winners will be made on March 30 while the distribution of cash prizes will be made the next day.
Winners will be chosen bases on the content of the messages that they will be sending to his Facebook page and the number of likes that these will generate.
Prizes are as follows:
1st Prize – P5,000
2nd Prize – P3,000
3rd Prize – P2,000
4th Prize – P1,000
5th to 10th – P500 each