BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and IME SORNITO
MANILA – The entire Western Visayas is to be downgraded to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by June 1, it being a “low-risk” region for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission.
In a televised national address last night, President Rodrigo Duterte said the country will be under this quarantine level except for the National Capital Region, regions 2, 3 and 4-A, Pangasinan and Albay provinces, and Davao City which will all be under GCQ.
The MGCQ in Western Visayas will be until June 15 unless extended.
“In other areas, it will be on a piecemeal basis depending on the viability of the place to meet the challenges of COVID-19,” said the President.
MGCQ is the transition phase between GCQ and the “new normal” when restrictions are further relaxed and become less necessary such as limiting people’s movement and public transportation, the operation of industries and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine.
All persons will be allowed outside their houses, although minimum public health standards will still have to be complied with, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
Public gatherings such as movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities will be allowed, but participants may fill no more than half of the capacity of the venue.
The same rule will apply to religious gatherings, community assemblies and non-essential work gatherings, said Roque.
Earlier yesterday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommended that Iloilo City would be under an extended GCQ until June 15 while the rest of Western Visayas – Iloilo Province, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras – would shift to MGCQ.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas immediately contacted National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Roque who both suggested that he appeal the task force’s recommendation.
“Despite being categorized as a low-risk area as per IATF Resolution No. 35 dated May 11, 2020, we have enacted regulations which complement the efforts of the national government in containing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019,” Treñas pointed out.
Like other areas in Western Visayas , he added, Iloilo City also met the minimum health system capacity standards for COVID-19 preparedness and response strategies or parameters prescribed by the Department of Health.
“If we want our economic activities to move forward from slowdown due to COVID-19, we have to make sure nga parehas ang classification sang Iloilo City sa iban nga provinces diri sa region,” said Treñas.
For his part, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the further downgrading of the community quarantine level in his province was most welcome.
The easing of restrictions is an acknowledgement of the effectiveness of the anti-COVID measures that the provincial government has been enforcing such as the mandatory wearing of facemask in public, observance of social distancing, limiting public transport, prohibiting mass gatherings, and imposition of curfew, among others, said Defensor.
As of yesterday, Western Visayas’ number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was at 111, with 78 of these having already recovered and only 10 mortalities, data from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 showed.
Roque said despite the downgrading of the community quarantine level, people should continue following quarantine protocols such as the wearing of facemasks in public and observing physical distancing.
“Unang-una napatunayan ng mga Pilipino na kaya nilang sumunod naman. By and large, itong more than 70 days na ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) at MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) pinatunayan natin na disiplinado po ang mga Pilipino,” Roque said in a virtual press conference.
He added: “Alam ng mga Pilipino na mas malaki ‘yung magiging banta sa kanilang buhay at kabuhayan kung babalik sila sa dati.”
Iloilo city and province, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras transitioned from ECQ to GCQ on May 16./PN
