ILOILO City – This city, Iloilo province, Capiz, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City still remain under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ, “moderate risk”), President Rodrigo Duterte announced in an address to the nation late last night.
The other Western Visayas provinces – Aklan, Antique and Guimaras – remain under MGCQ, too, but Health secretary Francisco Duque said these areas were now considered “low risk” for the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday showed Region 6’s COVID-19 cases at 324 – Aklan, six; Antique, 15; Capiz, six; Guimaras, zero; Iloilo province, 38; Negros Occidental, three; Bacolod City, 11; Iloilo City, 29; and repatriates, 216.
The shift to “low risk MGCQ” for Aklan, Antique and Guimaras was decided after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recalibrated its community quarantine system by removing the “new normal” category.
“The changes in the community quarantine system are only temporary and subject to change,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. “Kasi habang nagmi-meeting ang IATF nababago po ang kanilang guidelines.”
Region 6 shifted to MGCQ on June 1 – a transition phase between GCQ and the “new normal” when restrictions are further relaxed and become less necessary such as limiting people’s movement and public transportation, the operation of industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine.
The task force first extended it beginning June 16 to 30. Duterte’s announcement last night was the second extension.
Also last night, Duque reiterated his trust and confidence in Duque. Early this week, Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City urged Duque to step down for “not making correct decisions” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
“I think it is time for him to accept responsibility and voluntarily resign for the sake of the country,”
Treñas.
Despite the country having the “longest lockdown,” COVID-19 cases continue to spike, he pointed out.
“Libagon gid ang tanan nga gina-obra nila,” Treñas said./PN
