ILOILO City – The city government may seek that the metro be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) a mere three days after its request for a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) was approved.
In asking for MECQ from the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) last week, the city government cited as basis the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Has that basis quickly disappeared – in just three days? Or did the city government acted with haste in requesting for an MECQ?
Mayor Jerry Treñas said a new letter request may be sent to the IATF-MEID. The City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the City Health Office has been tasked to check if there is basis for a GCQ request.
“Gina-coordinate ta sa aton medical…gusto ta may basis man ta bala, indi nga daw nagahangyo kita,” Treñas told Panay News.
Last week, Treñas said it was the city government’s COVID Team that recommended for an MECQ.
On Sept. 24, the IATF-MEID approved a 15-day MECQ from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9.
“Kon may basis kita (for GCQ) we will send the letter. Kon waay, ti mahulat-hulat kita,” Treñas said.
From Sept. 21 to Sept. 26, several barangays were locked down for having the following number of COVID-19 cases:
* Ortiz, City Proper – 6
* Concepcion, City Proper – 10
* Sooc, Arevalo – 6
* M.H. Del Pilar, Jaro – 8
* San Isidro, Jaro – 4
* Simon Ledesma, Jaro – 3
* Aguinaldo, La Paz – 3
* Bo. Obrero – 13
* Jalandoni Estate, Lapuz – 10
* Mansaya, Lapuz – 5
* Punong, Lapuz – 3
* Rizal Lapuz Sur, Lapuz – 3
* Bolilao, Mandurriao – 9
* Calumpang, Molo – 16
As of Sept. 26, Iloilo City’s COVID-19 cases reached 2,116 with 53 deaths, data from the Department of Health Region 6 showed.
But with 1,113 cases having recovered, Iloilo City’s active COVID-19 cases as of Saturday were down to 950.
Under MECQ, government agencies and private firms were to operate with up to only 50 percent of their total workforce on-site.
In his Executive Order (EO) No. 149-A issued late last week, Treñas laid down the work arrangements government and private offices should observe to ensure continuous delivery of services while observing community quarantine guidelines.
Treñas’ latest directive defined operational capacity as the number of employees who can be permitted or required to physically report to work on-site.
Skeleton workforce, on the other hand, refers to the operational capacity that utilizes the smallest number of people needed for an agency to perform its function.
Also included in the mayor’s EO is an alternative work arrangement for employees over 60 years old, those with comorbidities and immunodeficiencies and other health risks, and pregnant women.
Treñas also ordered the temporary closure of courts within the city, citing the Supreme Court’s protocols under Administrative Circular No. 39-2020, which apply to all courts and proceedings in areas under MECQ.
Treñas likewise allowed all banks, financial institutions, among other establishments – both public and private – to operate at 100 percent capacity, provided that banking hours shall only be until 1p.m.
Mass public transport, on the other hand, is allowed to continue but they have to observe memorandums on physical distancing (one seat apart), “no mask, no face shield, no ride policy” and other safety protocols issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board./PN
