By ADRIAN STEWART CO AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) for the rest of April. The provincial government’s request for a shift to a stricter general community quarantine (GCQ) was not approved.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement on Sunday based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) recommendation approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Negros Occidental was placed by the IATF-EID under MGCQ since June 2020.
Over the weekend, the Regional IATF unanimously approved the request of the province to revert to GCQ for two weeks citing a surge in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson explained to other officials of Western Visayas and RIATF that the province was experiencing “triple digit” increase in new COVID-19 cases for recent days.
What would have happened had the request been approved?
Although Lacson admitted that the tourism sector would be adversely affected, he said the sugar and agricultural industries will continue with their normal operations.
The delivery of essential goods in the province will also remain unaffected, and the entry of Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) will still be allowed provided they strictly follow the guidelines set under the GCQ.
Fewer people would be allowed to go out, Lacson said.
Some cities may also close their borders anew.
The provincial government would also impose a unified curfew – from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. – among local government units.
As of yesterday, April 11, active cases in Negros Occidental surged to 1,317, according to the Department of Health./PN
