Philippine Coast Guard Seaborne Patrol in Davao City Coastal Areas

On Saturday, April 11, 2020, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted their regular seaborne patrol from Panacan to Toril aboard MRRV-4408 Cape San Agustin. The sea patrol was done to ensure that the guidelines of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) were being followed. The PCG has been conducting daily seaborne patrols even before the 2019 novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hit Davao Region.

Captain Edgar Ybañez, Commander Garry Laynesa, and their crew went about their duties, monitoring the coastal areas of Davao City. Under ECQ, fishing boats are prohibited from ferrying passengers and residents aren’t allowed to go swimming in the water. The PCG made sure no one was violating any of the ECQ guidelines in addition to the regulations already in effect.

Councilor Mabel Acosta serves as the chair and representative of Mayor Sara Duterte in the Davao City Maritime Coordinating Council (DCMCC). During the patrol, Team Acosta witnessed how diligent and disciplined the Coast Guard operate despite regularly conducting these patrols 24/7. The PCG and the other peace keeping forces have been serving as front-liners during this health crisis, along with health care professionals and service industry workers. They have been risking their lives to protect us and to contain the virus. We owe it to them, to our loved ones, and to ourselves to follow the law, especially the ECQ guidelines.

The Short Answer to Who are the Front-liners in the Fight against Covid-19 and How Can We Help Them?

The front-liners are health care workers, hospital staff, sanitation workers, garbage collectors, food industry personnel, delivery service workers, security guards, and government employees. While most of us are at home, they are risking their health and their lives in order to stop the spread of the 2019 novel Coronavirus disease (Covid-19). While they work more hours and days than they should all for the safety and health of everyone, the least we can do is to stay at home, practice proper hygiene, and encourage others to do the same.

The number of Covid-19 cases are still on the rise with the country’s total at 3,246 as of 4:00 pm on April 05, 2020 (DOH). The number of positive Covid-19 cases in Davao City is at sixty-five (65) as of 8:00pm on April 05, 2020 (DOH). An Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has been implemented in Davao City and it will last from 9:00 pm of April 04, 2020 until 11:59 pm of April 19, 2020.

People are risking their lives to care for those already infected with the virus and to stop it from spreading any further. They are working themselves to the bone all for us. If we disregard quarantine guidelines, we are invalidating all the progress our front-liners have worked so hard to achieve and we are also jeopardizing not only our lives but the lives of those around us. Let us not be selfish and careless, especially during a crisis like this. The sooner we follow ECQ guidelines, the sooner that this crisis will be over.