ILOILO City – So this southern city could reopen on May 1 after 40 days of quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is a must for everybody to cooperate with the city government, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The quarantine started on March 20 and was supposed to end on April 14 but was extended up to the end of this month.
“Kon may mga cases naman kita or transmission, ano pag abri ta? Ang akon lang ginapangayo kooperasyon because we have to open already. Naluoy ako sa mga pumoluyo ta nga waay trabaho,” said Treñas.
He, however, made it clear that “even if we open on May 1, ang ini nga problema ari pa ‘ni upod sa aton. So we have to do everything nga masiguro ta gid nga safe ang mga Ilonggos.”
The mayor urged residents to religiously follow quarantine policies such as the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and staying at home.
“Gina-obra ta ‘ni because we want to open by May 1,” stressed Treñas.
As of April 14, this city has recorded five COVID-19-positive cases of which one already recovered and released from the hospital. Two remain hospitalized while one is on home quarantine. One died.
The city also has 21 persons under investigation and 257 persons under monitoring (actively monitored).
On April 13 Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 63 further strengthening the quarantine by ordering a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) lockdown of the city. Only hospitals and pharmacies would be operating; businesses and offices of any other nature must be closed.
Yesterday, however, Treñas amended his EO after some sectors made an appeal.
Under the amended EO, other essential establishments, especially those involved in food, including sari-sari stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and talipapas, would be allowed to operate but for a maximum of six hours only – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Also, these establishments must require patrons to wear facemasks and bring their quarantine pass, and accommodate their last customers 30 minutes before 3 p.m.
By 3 p.m., no one would be allowed to go out of their houses except those exempted.
“Supermarkets should have vehicles to transport their workers,” said Treñas.
Other establishments and businesses allowed to operate are the following:
* business and knowledge process outsourcing companies – must comply with Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-14-2020 dated April 11, 2020
* media outlets – must secure media pass from the city government
* financial institutions (banks, money transfer services, payment and remittance centers) but only from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
* restaurants, fast food chains and the like – but take-out and delivery services only, and must close by 3 p.m.
* gasoline stations, laundry and water refilling stations – only until 3 p.m.
* slaughterhouse, fishing port operations, arrastre, cargo, logistics (including hauling, transport and storage), warehouse operations, delivery of basic commodities, supplies, food manufacturing, commissaries, food deliveries, utilities (water, electricity, telecommunication, cable television, fuel/diesel/gasoline, LPG, kerosene, and other similar or related goods and services)
As to movement restrictions, the amended EO stipulates that no person shall be allowed to go out of their houses except:
* those who need to go to either hospital or pharmacy, provided they have a quarantine pass and wear facemask
* all Department of Health personnel (officials and staff)
* healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, all hospital staff and personnel, provided they present a valid identification cards)
* uniformed and volunteer personnel (from the police, military, fire bureau, coastguard, Red Cross, and those manning COVID-19 checkpoints)
* security and augmentation personnel
* Iloilo City Government personnel (members of Iloilo City COVID-19 Team, Iloilo City Community Kitchen, Iloilo City Emergency Response Team, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Sanitation)
* barangay officials
* employees of public utilities and related industries
* personnel engaged in the production, preservation, storage and manufacture of food, water, goods and commodities and other basic necessities
* those working in banks and financial institutions
* media practitioners
* other such essential personnel recommended by the COVID-19 Focal Person, and approved by the city mayor/PN
