ILOILO City – Senior citizens (those 60 years old and older) and youngsters (those below 21 years old) here may go out of their houses but only for the following reasons:
* to buy basic necessities
* if they are going to work
* to stroll or exercise at the Iloilo Esplanade
Mayor Jerry Treñas announced this hours on Monday before issuing Executive Order No. 086-B, Series of 2020 reiterating the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the movement of people under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
One provision read: “The movement of all persons in areas placed under MGCQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, for work in the offices or industries permitted to operate, and for other activities allowed under MGCQ. To this end, any persons below 21 years old, those who are 60 years old and above, those with comorbidity, immunodeficiency or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain in their residence at all times; provided that all activities and movements allowed under other sections of these guidelines for the foregoing persons shall continue to be permitted.”
According to Treñas, compliance officers won’t apprehend these segments of the population if their reasons for leaving their houses were among those he cited.
“We have to be considerate. Pila na sila ka bulan nabukot,” said the mayor.
Treñas also said he had not ordered compliance officers to be strict and immediately apprehend people not observing physical distancing or not wearing facemask.
“Pangsaway lang kita,” said Treñas.
The city government has mobilized over 200 compliance officers to ensure that people minimum public health safety standards such as the wearing of facemask, observing physical distancing and frequent handwashing.
These measures can curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019, according to the Department of Health./PN
