SAN JOSE, Antique – This province has been placed under enhanced community quarantine in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to Colonel Roy Parena, Antique Police Provincial Office director and Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 chairperson on March 23, the decision came after Western Visayas recorded to positives cases of the said virus.
“Executive Order (EO) Number 36 was issued by Gov. Rhodora Cadiao last March 22, which placed Antique under enhanced community quarantine until March 31,” he said.
Under the EO, all mayors of the 18 towns in the province are enjoined to implement the enhanced community quarantine within their respective territorial jurisdictions.
The 590 barangays in Antique are instructed to issue one quarantine pass per household in order to limit the number of people going out to procure their food supplies and other essential needs.
“Only one quarantine pass per household shall be provided by the barangay captain to their constituents,” he said.
Parena added that the quarantine pass, however, is transferable to other members of the family aged 18 to 60 years old who do not exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms.
Cadiao, on the other hand, cited the exceptions of the EO as the province ensures the delivery of public service while observing social distancing and other preventive health measures.
“As essential frontliners in the fight against COVID-19, the skeletal workforce of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Peace, Order and Public Safety, Provincial Health Office, all hospitals and infirmaries of the Provincial Government of Antique are exempted and shall continue to perform their vital functions to mitigate the threat of the disease,” Cadiao said in the EO.
The staff of the Provincial Warden’s Office, skeletal workforce of the Office of the Governor, provincial guards, and the personnel of the Provincial Administrator shall continue to report for work at the Capitol.
The Provincial Procurement and Management Unit, along with the Bids and Awards Committee shall also continue their duties.
Under the EO, the provincial government also adopted work from home for employees authorized by their respective department heads and division chiefs.
“The alternative work arrangement shall be adopted for the duration of State of Public health Emergency and shall be applicable until Proclamation Number 922 is lifted by the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Cadiao said.(With a report from PNA/PN)
