Baguio insists “no sugar coating” on COVID-19 reporting

BAGUIO CITY(August 22, 2021)— Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has insisted the city government is providing factual information on the Corona Viurs Disease (COVID-19) situation in the city.

He said, no “sugar-coating” is being done as he had always emphasized the value of truthfulness in informing residents of the obtaining situations and factual information including those on the ongoing pandemic especially since this concerns the health of the populace.

“We don’t like to lie to you.  The worst thing that a local chief executive can do is to lie to everyone and tell them that the situation is okay when it is not,” Magalong said.   He added, ‘people deserve to know the truth and telling them the true situation would make them more conscious of their health and do something to protect themselves.’

He though clarified there was also never an intention to sow fear.  “Just the facts straight up, no alterations so nobody gets misled,” Magalong stressed.

Meanwhile, Magalong issued an Executive Order 89, series of 2021 prohibiting children age 17 and below from going out of their homes.  The order imposes temporarily age based home restrictions from August 23 to 29, 2021.

The restrictions came after the city records 164 confirmed Covid cases from the age group. The cases are from August 1 to August 20, 2021.

The age group however is exempted from the restrictions when they are going to recreational or leisure activities in outdoor areas where there is a good air flow. They are also exempted if they are into indespensable appointments requiring physical appearance or in cases of medical appointments and emergencies.

Artemio A. Dumlao