True to its commitment, the Valenzuela City Government delivered the second batch of food ration to 435 families from the Bagong Kaunlaran Compound in Paso de Blas on July 30, 2020. Through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) led by Ms. Dorothy Evangelista, each household was given a food pack, drinking water refill, and a kilo of fish.

The residents also received 450 food packs, consisting of canned goods, from District 1 Representative Cong. WES Gatchalian and fresh vegetables from Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja.

Beginning July 25 until the end of the community lockdown on August 9, Bagong Kaunlaran households will get food packs, hygiene kits, and snacks for children from the local government unit (LGU) on five-day intervals. This move is to ensure that the residents are provided with the basic essentials as they are prohibited from leaving their houses during this period.

Localized lockdown

Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian ordered the two-week lockdown of the Bagong Kaunlaran Compound effective 12 a.m. of July 25 after random COVID-19 swab testing among residents yielded 25 to 50 percent positive cases.

Of the initial 453 individuals tested, 106 were COVID-positive. Bagong Kaunlaran is home to 530 families and 1,342 individuals.

While on lockdown, residents are expected to just stay home. No one is also allowed to enter the community, except barangay and City Government personnel, police and rescue team members. A “padala station” is likewise open to receive food and other supplies brought by friends and/or family for the Bagong Kaunlaran residents. 

A Medical Command Post with a hotline (0908-4099128) has been set up in the compound's basketball court to address their health needs and concerns. Eleven (11) rescue personnel are also on duty to provide assistance when needed, while 24 policemen are on 24-hour rotation duty to maintain peace and order police in the area. 

Pursuant to Ordinance No. 742, Series of 2020, or the "COVID-19 Spread Prevention Ordinance of Valenzuela City", violators of the Community Lockdown Protocols will be fined PhP 10,000 or will face imprisonment of not more than 30 days or will pay the penalty of PhP 5,000 upon the discretion of the court. On the other hand, violators of Ordinance No. 670, Series of 2020, or the "Stay at Home Ordinance of Valenzuela City", will be fined Php 5,000. 

On the ground situationer

On July 29, Mayor REX gave a tour of the locked down Bagong Kaunlaran community to the team from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases led by Department of Health  (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III and Deputy Chief Implementer of the IATF's National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Secretary Vince Dizon.

The City Mayor visited the Bagong Kaunlaran community again on July 30 to personally see the condition of the families and frontliners deployed there. To his surprise, the once bustling community has become a veritable ghost town as residents strictly followed the directive to stay home.

Mayor REX also noted that the residents still wore masks even inside their houses.

Going from house to house, the hardworking City Mayor constantly thanked the residents for their cooperation and encouraged them to be patient as the lockdown was just temporary and will end soon. Mayor REX also reassured them of the LGU’s support and assistance especially during this difficult time. 

According to the police and rescue personnel on duty, no medical emergency has been recorded and not a single violator has been apprehended in the community in the past five (5) days.

The success of the lockdown in Bagong Kaunlaran is also because of the able leadership of Barangay Captain Lucy Nolasco. Together with the Paso de Blas barangay councilors, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman Danica Balbag, and the barangay frontliners, Kap. Lucy has been conscientiously keeping watch over the compound since Day 1.

On behalf of her barangay, she extended her gratitude to Mayor REX, the rescue and security teams, “Mula sa Brgy. Paso de Blas, kami pong Barangay Council na kasama ko, ay buong pusong nagpapasalamat sa ating Mayor REX Gatchalian at sa bumubuo ng Sangguniang Panlungsod Valenzuela dahil sa mga ibinigay nilang ayuda sa mga nasasakupan ko dito sa Bagong Kaunlaran… Ganun din po sa mga kapulisan at sa Rescue. Hindi nila kami pinababayaan at sila ay talagang nakatutok dito sa Bagong Kaunlaran. Wala pong nakakapasok, walang nakakalabas at tinitiyak po nila yung seguridad ng mga tao dito.”