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NINETY teams of contact tracers have been deployed by the Quezon City government to beef up its contact tracing efforts in its 142 villages (barangay), Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte said on Wednesday.

At the same time, Belmonte announced that more satellite contact tracing offices specifically in Districts 3 and 6 were opened to quickly help detect and stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the communities.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/08/12/news/latest-stories/quezon-city-deploys-90-teams-of-covid-19-tracers/754310/

One of the two ostriches that went viral after running around a Quezon City gated community last week has not only died of stress but was also cooked into adobo, the lawyer of the bird’s owner announced yesterday.

Attorney Charlie Pascual told Manila Bulletin that Jonathan Cruz, the bird’s owner, instructed his caretakers to bury the dead bird. But upon checking with the caretakers the next day, Cruz learned that they decided to cook it because they thought the fowl’s carcass shouldn’t go to waste.

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/bon-appetit-viral-quezon-city-085222318.html

Mayor Joy Belmonte issued the memorandum upon the recommendation of the City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (CESU) to stop the selling of liquor to arrest the rise of virus cases in the communities.

“Reimposing liquor ban will help contain the spread of the virus in out community where social gatherings are held,” said Belmonte.

https://www.manilastandard.net/lgu/ncr/330516/qc-reimposes-liquor-ban-until-aug-18.html

The Department of Public Works and Highways is targeting to complete the construction of additional 23 quarantine facilities in Metro Manila by the end of August for coronavirus disease 2019 patients with mild symptoms.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, also the government’s chief isolation czar, said Monday that the department is expediting the construction of the additional facilities, citing the urgency of these projects as some hospitals in Metro Manila reach full capacity for COVID-19 patients.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1315947/dpwh-eyes-to-finish-23-quarantine-sites-in-metro-manila-by-end-of-august

The Quezon City government has partnered with the Diocese of Novaliches for the establishment of a community farm in a bid to promote the city’s urban agriculture program.

Mayor Joy Belmonte recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Novaliches Bishop Roberto Orendain Gaa for the initiative, which aims to contribute to food security efforts of the city government.

“This partnership with the Diocese of Novaliches strengthens our resolve that responding to this pandemic requires the participation of all sectors of society, private or public, to address the needs of our residents,” Belmonte said.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/08/02/2032310/quezon-city-church-partner-community-urban-farm

Asked how much the city would lose in revenue from ABS-CBN taxes, Belmonte said "quite a lot."

"A mayor's concern are the people, their employment, the taxes of course and the revenue that will be generated from businesses, which will go back to the people in terms of services," she said.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/20/20/quezon-city-to-lose-quite-a-lot-with-abs-cbn-shutdown-mayor

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, the city said: "This alarmist post includes numerous points that are blatantly false, combined with misleading distortions of the truth."

"To be clear, there will be no deviation from existing enforcement policy, and arrests will only be made in rare and extreme circumstances," it added.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/20/2029374/no-indiscriminate-arrests-quarantine-violators-quezon-city-government-says

The Quezon City government attributes the city’s high recovery rate to the Hope community care facilities, where COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms and suspected cases are admitted and properly taken care of until they test negative.

Dr. Rolly Cruz, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head, said data as of 16 July shows the recovery rate in Quezon City is at 55 percent, higher than its active cases. It went as high as 61 percent last 30 June.

“This is in contrast to the average in the National Capital Region (NCR) where active cases still outnumber recovered patients,” Cruz said.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/07/19/high-recovery-rate-due-to-hope-facilities/

“We have to keep pace with new infections by forming many groups of contact tracers who will be able to immediately identify those who have been in close contact with COVID-19 patients,” Belmonte said.

CESU head Dr. Rolando Cruz, the newly-hired contact tracers are tasked to trace individuals who have been in direct contact with a COVID-19 patient based on their narrative and activities for the past two weeks.

“We have formed 30 teams of contact tracers. Through them, our goal is to inform and educate those who have been exposed about quarantine protocols to reduce transmission,” said Cruz.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1047489

Resolution 51 states that limited religious gatherings may be allowed in areas under general community quarantine, provided that there is no objection from the local government unit.

Belmonte said the guidelines are consistent with the IATF policy, such as the 10-percent seating capacity limit on the number of participants.

“The city government recognizes the importance of faith and religion among Filipinos, especially now during a pandemic,” she said in Filipino.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/12/2027396/quezon-city-allows-religious-gatherings-under-strict-conditions

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Sa opisyal na pahayag ng punong lungsod, sinabi nito na malaking pasalamat nya at agad itong natuklasan matapos ang kanyang pinaka huling test.

Ayon kay Belmonte, maayos angkanyang kalagayan at wala siyang nararamdamang anumang sintomas.

“Mahigpit ko pong sinusundan lahat ng quarantine protocols ng ating Department of Health at sinimulan na din po ng QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (QC-ESU) angontecontact tracing procedures,” pahayag ni Belmonte.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1047042

The collaboration with Grab, one of the leading digital platforms for their GrabBayanihan program which was created during the early part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis to assist residents who were affected by the nationwide community quarantine.

“As we transition to the new normal, one of our priorities is to address the needs of our residents whose sources of income were badly affected. Through GrabBayanihan, we will be able to provide jobs for our residents and in return, they can continue to provide for their families,” QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1046805

The Quezon City local government reminded barangay officials to strictly enforce the general community quarantine (GCQ) guidelines after clustering and possible community transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were observed in some areas.

On Thursday, the city mayor met separately with the barangay captains from all 142 barangays, according to district, to reiterate their responsibility in enforcing national and local GCQ regulations to control the spread of the virus.

“We have been informed that most of the causes for the spread of COVID-19 cases in areas that were recently placed under special concern lockdown (SCL) were due to various unauthorized activities, which were regrettably preventable,” the official said.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/07/05/qc-barangays-told-to-enforce-gcq-guidelines/

Four (4) ‘We Heal As One’ off-site dormitories purpose-built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for hospital workers will be turned-over on Monday, July 6 to the Quezon City government.

“With these facilities at Quezon Memorial Circle, our modern-day heroes will have a safer and more comfortable space to rest”, said Secretary Mark A. Villar.

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/19065

The program will help residents who need legal aid in drafting legal and business forms and contracts and in understanding legal documents.

The program is a partnership with the online legal resource MyLegalWhiz, a virtual lawyer ready to provide legal knowledge and assistance anytime.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/06/30/online-legal-assistance-for-qc-residents/

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday unveiled the city's own mobile community testing unit, the first-ever in the country, to fight the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The modified truck would help complement the city’s strategy of tracing, isolating and testing more residents from various communities, she said.

“With this mobile testing unit, our team can further its efforts in testing more people who need to be isolated immediately,” she added.

https://www.manilastandard.net/news/national/327345/belmonte-unveils-qc-s-mobile-community-testing-unit.html

Those who will be found using a fake PWD ID shall be charged by the LGU with falsification of public documents and estafa. On the other hand, officials who will issue the ID to those who are ineligible will be charged for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The new guidelines were drawn up following reports on social media of a family with all six members possessing a PWD ID even though none of them had any form of disability. A check by city officials discovered no one in the family applied for the card, but rather bought their cards at P2,000 each.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/06/29/qc-releases-new-guidelines-on-pwd-cards/

The city recently launched the distribution of : Libreng Binhi starter kits as part of the city mayor’s Joy of Urban Farming (JoUF) program, which was started during her term as vice mayor in 2010.

Tina Perez of JoUF said, “The city government has disbursed over 12,000 starter kits that contain various kinds of seeds, two kilos of organic fertilizer, three potting bags, a trowel, seedling tray and a guide on proper planting to be distributed to residents.”

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/06/27/qc-pushes-urban-gardening-campaign/

-The Quezon City government’s Fresh Market On Wheels, running on its seventh week now, can be considered as a huge success as it generated P25 million income for 66 displaced vendors amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The program has achieved its primary goal of providing livelihood to displaced vendors whose income was affected by the lockdown,” said Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO) head Mona Celine Yap.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1045798

The six PWD identification cards issued to members of the same family, a photo of which has since gone viral, are not supported by application forms or other documents on record, and their release may have been "facilitated" by a city employee, the local government of Quezon City found.

"What we can say right now is that besides the recent update, we found out that certain employees in city hall facilitated the release of these IDs to the family," Quezon City legal officer Niño Casimiro told Philstar.com in Filipino in a phone call.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/06/24/2023208/qc-government-no-forms-records-family-pwd-cards-viral-photo

Of this number, 2,886 cases have complete addresses in the city, the Quezon City government said in its 8 a.m. bulletin.

The QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and District Health Offices has also validated 2,849 cases.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/743861/quezon-city-covid-19-cases-now-at-2-965/story/

The QC PCCI chapter, led by its president Sarah Deloraya-Mateo, donated P50 million. Mayor Joy Belmonte thanked the group for its effort to help fight COVID-19.

“I am so thankful that we have a lot of kind-hearted people, groups and organizations, such as the PCCI- QC, that are continuously pouring in their resources to help the city government in providing the basic needs and medical attention to our constituents amid the pandemic,” Belmonte said.

https://www.manilastandard.net/lgu/ncr/326615/pcci-donates-p50-million-to-qc-for-covid-19.html

Employees of the Quezon City government who worked during the city's enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period will be prioritized for COVID-19 testing, the mayor said Sunday.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that while the city government wanted to test all of its employees for the disease, the amended guidelines of the inter-agency task force have discouraged it to avoid the depletion of available test kits and testing resources.

“We will maximize all available resources within the bounds of the guidelines issued by the national government,” Belmonte said.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/6/21/QC-govt-to-prioritize-employees-who-worked-during-ECQ-for-COVID-19-testing.html

After the Quezon City local government received more than 300 cases of violence against women and children during the community quarantine period, it has expanded the protection it offers against gender-based and domestic violence.

The city government is now constructing a shelter, as well as activating a crisis helpline.

The QC Gender and Development Office said the city received 335 incident reports of violence against women and children from different barangays during the quarantine period. These include reports of physical, sexual, psychological, verbal and economical abuse.

As response to those reports, the local government is prioritizing the construction of a shelter and is institutionalizing a crisis helpline and online support groups.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/06/18/qc-steps-up-campaign-against-women-child-abuse/

“Since our jeepney drivers are directly affected by the continuing community quarantine, this LalaJeep program is a welcome initiative which will provide alternative livelihood for them. We are grateful to Lalamove for piloting this program in Quezon City,” Belmonte said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/11/qc-govt-lalamove-launch-lalajeep-program

The Quezon City government has partnered with delivery service app Lalamove to provide jobs to hundreds of jeepney workers displaced by the coronavirus pandemic.

Around 200 jeepney drivers have signed up for the LalaJeep program, which aims to give drivers alternative livelihood while they are still prohibited from transporting commuters.

“This program is a welcome initiative because we will be able to help jeepney drivers affected by the community quarantine,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. “We are grateful to Lalamove for piloting this project in Quezon City.”

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/06/12/2020329/quezon-city-lalamove-tie-help-jeepney-drivers

Quezon City on Wednesday recorded 36 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising the city’s tally to 2,488.

The city government said 16 more people recovered from the respiratory illness, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,195.

The number of COVID-19 related deaths in the city also climbed 2 to 199, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/11/20/quezon-city-lists-36-new-coronavirus-cases-total-rises-to-2488

The Quezon City government said it would provide free gadgets to about 170,000 public school students in preparation for possible online classes to keep them safe from the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 155,000 junior high school students and another 19,000 senior high school students will get free computer tablets from the city government, it said.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/09/20/170000-quezon-city-students-to-get-free-gadgets-for-new-normal

Around 100 ride-hailing drivers ferried passengers for free from Commonwealth Avenue to the MRT-3's Quezon Avenue station in Quezon City on Monday, a week into the relaxed coronavirus lockdown of Metro Manila.

The shuttle service is a project of the city government and LABAN TNVS, a group of transport network vehicle services.

It will run during the rush hour on Monday mornings, said organizers.

A shortage of buses in Commonwealth Avenue on the first day of the general community quarantine last June 1 forced some commuters to cram themselves into free rides, take pricier taxi rides or wait in line for hours.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/08/20/100-tnvs-units-give-free-rides-along-commonwealth-ave

A newly-approved local budget for education will also provide internet allowance and gadgets for public school teachers

https://www.rappler.com/nation/263076-quezon-city-provide-tablets-high-school-students

To adapt to the changing times, the Quezon City government has vowed to develop a network of 161 kilometers of bike lanes as part of its commitment to a sustainable recovery and the global clean air initiative.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/03/qc-plans-network-of-161-km-of-bike-lanes

The Quezon City government will implement digital transactions for the application and renewal of business and building permits, Mayor Joy Belmonte announced over the weekend.

Belmonte said the shift to digital transactions would limit face-to-face interactions during the new normal.

“It is high time that we use the benefits that technology can offer and implement creative approaches to ensure everyone’s safety,” she said.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/06/02/2018046/quezon-city-shifts-digital-transactions

In a news release, Mayor Joy Belmonte said, the move will limit face to face interactions between citizens and city hall employees, especially since social distancing is strictly advised nowadays.

“It is high time that we harness the benefits that technology can offer and implement creative approaches to ensure everyone’s safety,” Belmonte said.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1043455

The new measures and practices must be observed during this period of “new normal” with extra precaution while the antidote to the virus has yet to be found

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/05/31/manila-qc-adopt-online-classes/

The Quezon City local government is looking into extending the 14-day lockdown in 11 locations that were placed under special concern lockdown (SCL) as it plans to continue rapid testing on all individuals in these areas.

These areas are Sitio Militar in Barangay Bahay Toro; Vargas Compound-Adelfa Metro Heights-Abanay and Ancop Canada in Barangay Culiat; Lower Gulod in Barangay Sauyo; 318 Dakila Street, 2nd Alley Kalayaan B and Masbate Street in Barangay Batasan Hills; and Victory Avenue, ROTC Hunters, BMA Avenue and Agno Street in Barangay Tatalon.
Meanwhile, two more areas will be placed under SCL.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/05/27/qc-plans-special-lockdown-extension/

According to Mayor Joy Belmonte, the QC Protection Center will begin serving walk-in clients starting this week, particularly women, children and members of the LGBT (le***an, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community who have experienced violence and harassment.

“Sa pagdami ng kaso ng karahasan at pang-aabuso laban sa ating mga kababaihan, kabataan at miyembro ng LGBT community, nakita namin ang pangangailangan na muling buksan ang QCPC para matugunan ang problemang ito,” said Belmonte.

The center, located within the Quezon City General Hospital (QCGH) compound in Barangay Bahay Toro, was temporarily shut down by the local government due to the pandemic.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1042886

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and Christian church Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) rolled out on Monday their “Mobile Kitchen Project” to feed poor families in a barangay in Quezon City amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/25/qcpd-ccf-roll-out-mobile-kitchen-to-feed-poor-families/