ILOILO – This time the enemy is the invisible coronavirus.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. appealed for unity ahead of today’s 122nd Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Defensor expressed confidence that the Ilonggos would overcome this unseen adversary – but only if they are united.
“Let us work for the recovery of Iloilo, the rise of the province,” he said.
Defensor estimated at more than P10 billion the losses which the province incurred from March 15 to April 30 when the enhanced community quarantine was imposed.
He reminded the Ilonggos that the Philippines gained independence from “oppressors from other lands” over a century ago “because the people united.”
“Right now we are fighting again. We don’t only heal as one, we fight as one,” said Defensor.
As of June 11, the province had a total of 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with five deaths, data from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 showed.
Of these 29 cases, eight were overseas workers or locally stranded individuals. Of the five deaths, on the other hand, one was an overseas worker.
“COVID-19 is more fatal than a foreign invasion in terms of casualties and the levels of problems and difficulties it gives us. So as we celebrate Independence Day, let us unite and fight” said Defensor.
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
Defensor said 379,060 formal and informal workers from 38 local government units in the province were affected by the health crisis, resulting in roughly P2.4 billion losses in employment.
Stoppage in construction projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Western Visayas resulted in a loss of P117 million, affecting 5,280 workers.
About P2 billion was cut from the income of the Business Process Outsourcing industry.
Defensor is leading this morning’s simple Independence Day rites at the historic public plaza of Santa Barbara town.
The celebration’s theme is “Kalayaan 2020: Towards a Free, United, and Safe Nation.”
During the Philippine revolution against Spain, the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas was organized and formally inaugurated on Nov. 17, 1898 at the town plaza of Santa Barbara. A large crowd hailing from many places across Iloilo gathered for the historic occasion. The Philippine flag was raised for the first time outside of Luzon. This happened five months after General Emilio Aguinaldo’s declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.
Mayor Rema Somo of Santa Barbara said physical distancing would be observed during today’s rites at the plaza.
“Wala kami sang programa para malikawan ang massgathering,” said Somo.
There would only be a flag-raising ceremony at 8 a.m. followed by wreath laying at the monument of Ilonggo revolutionary leader General Martin Delgado./PN
