The city government of Makati is ready for the pilot implementation of localized or granular lockdowns in the National Capital Region (NCR), Mayor Abby Binay said Tuesday.

Binay assured that all affected residents will be provided with their needs during granular lockdown that is expected to start on Wednesday.

The city government has been implementing its own localized community quarantine (LCQ) to further halt the spread of Covid-19 infection within communities.

Prior to the announcement of the national government piloting NCR for granular lockdowns, the city government has already implemented a 14-day localized lockdown in Barangay Pio del Pilar amid the sudden spike of Covid-19 cases in the village.

“Makati is the first local government unit to implement a localized or granular lockdown last March,” Binay said.

Binay said those residents affected by the granular lockdown received food packages, supplemental vitamins, and medicines.

The city government also conducted house-to-house swab testing during the first 48 hours of the lockdown prompting immediate isolation of positive Covid-19 patients.

“As we shift from modified enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine on Wednesday, I would like to assure Makatizens that our city will provide food packs, Covid-19 home care kits, and swab tests for them in case their street or barangay is placed under granular lockdown,” she said.

The city government has been providing a Covid-19 home care kit to residents who tested positive with mild symptoms.

“Since Metro Manila is under Alert Level 4, our goal is to help Makatizens recover so that they will not need to be hospitalized,” she said.

Binay said they will focus on testing symptomatic patients and tracing close contacts to prevent superspreader events.

To date, the city government provides free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to Makatizens with Covid-19 symptoms, including their close contacts. (PNA)