BACOLOD City – Similar to its neighboring provinces in Western Visayas, this highly-urbanized city would also like to be classified under the lenient modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Mayor Evelio Leonardia appealed the initial recommendation of the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to keep the metro under GCQ for the entire November.
“I personally called Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director Jovi Ingeniero, also the Regional IATF chairman, to reiterate our appeal to de-escalate the quarantine status of Bacolod City from GCQ to MECQ,” Leonardia said in statement.
In his appeal, Leonardia said Bacolod’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation can now be considered “stable,” citing the assessment of Mel Feliciano, Inter-Agency Task Force-Visayas chief deputy implementer.
On Monday, the city logged its lowest single-day COVID-19 case recording since July with only two more infections.
As of Oct. 27, the city had 372 active COVID-19 infections. The number of deaths, on the other hand, stood at 122.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the final quarantine classification for the month of November will be released today.
On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the national IATF to keep Metro Manila and other areas under GCQ until Nov. 30.
The cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, Tacloban and Iligan, as well as the provinces of Batangas and Lanao del Sur will also be under GCQ from Nov. 1 to 30.
For his part, Leonardia hopes that Ingeniero will favorably endorse Bacolod City’s quarantine de-escalation.
“We eagerly wait for the final decision of the national IATF,” the city’s chief executive said.
Under GCQ and MGCQ, all residents are required to observe minimum public health standards at all times.
In MGCQ areas, all persons, regardless of age and health status, are allowed outside their residence.
Physical reporting for work in government offices in MGCQ areas may also be at full capacity with alternative arrangements for those 60 and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant women.
Industries under Category I to III are allowed to operate at full capacity in areas under MGCQ, while the following may operate at 50 percent capacity: barbershops, salons, and other personal care establishments, and dine-in services in food retail establishments.
Gatherings in areas under MGCQ are allowed provided that participants will be limited to 50 percent of the venue or seating capacity./PN
