ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. will no longer appeal to the national government to downgrade this province’s quarantine classification after it has been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) beginning today until the end of the month.
It was no surprise, said Defensor. “Maayo man gani ‘na kay ginkilala sang national government ang aton sitwasyon,” referring to the plateauing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases here. The province is logging an average of 125 coronavirus cases daily for the past 14 days.
On Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to place this city under MECQ, joining its neighbor Iloilo City which MECQ has been extended.
“We welcome this 100 percent,” Defensor added.
Iloilo had been under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) since last year. And with the shift in quarantine status, Defensor said this was an opportunity to maximize his earlier enforcements.
“Plastar pa gid naton ang pag-andam, ma-maximize naton ang puede nga mahimu asta sa katapusan sang bulan. Sustineron ‘ta ini kay amo ‘ni ang makabulig sa aton,” he added.
QUARANTINE MEASURES
While being under MGCQ last year, Defensor said these measures – restriction of non-essential travel; closure of resorts accommodation and recreation establishments; requiring of travel passes; and ban on the sale and consumption of liquor – were already part of the higher MECQ.
“Sa bahin sang probinsya waay man kita sang daku nga adjustment nga himuon kay ti sang nagliligad sang ara kita sa MGCQ we have made adjustments. Kon mag-MECQ kita may gamay lang kita nga himuon nga adjustments,” said Defensor.
What are these?
Defensor is looking at closing wellness industries like those offering spa and massage services or limiting their operations to only 30 percent of the total capacity.
The governor said he would review the government’s Omnibus Guidelines under MECQ.
He said he may issue an executive order soon.
BORDER CONTROL, LIQUOR BAN STAY
The 43 local government units (LGUs), Philippine National Police and barangay officials are enjoined to still enforce border control points. All essential travelers are still required to present travel passes at these checkpoints until the end of the month.
The ban on liquor sale and consumption, public and social gatherings and operation of tourism establishments remain in effect.
Curfew hours would still be from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
MORE VACCINES
Defensor believes that with Iloilo under MECQ, additional vaccines against COVID-19 may soon be delivered here.
“We expect nga mas damo-damo nga bakuna ang hatag sa aton kay ti mas critical ang aton posisyon. Mas urgent bali ang sitwasyon tungod ara kita sa MECQ kaysa iban nga mga probinsya,” he added.
He clarified, however, that even if he won’t appeal for more vaccines, the province has already been endorsed by the IATF as priority area for vaccination.
Presently, the governor said the province is still receiving anti-coronavirus jabs from the national government. These vaccines are being used to inoculate priority populations such as the frontline health workers, elderly and persons with comorbidities.
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC
With few Ilonggos perhaps dissatisfied of the province’s MECQ shift, Defensor urged them to just welcome it as “this was what the province needs”.
“Liwaton ko, ang obra nga ini mahapò kag indi convenient,” Defensor stressed, “pero kinahanglan ta sakripisyohan kay kon indi ta pagpulihan, indi naton mapapanaog ang aton nga cases. So, liwat pangayuon ko ang pagbuylog ninyo sa aton banwa.”
As of June 14, Iloilo had 9,747 total confirmed COVID cases – 2,420 active, 7,092 recovered and 235 deaths, according to the data from the Provincial Health Office.
It also showed that from June 1 to 14 only, the province had 1,744 new cases.
The top 10 LGUs with the highest total COVID cases were Passi City (913), Oton (850), Pavia (674), Santa Barbara (464), Miag-ao (413), Guimbal (372), San Joaquin (307), Sara (282), Cabatuan (280), and Calinog (280)./PN
