MANILA – The province of Iloilo would shift to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) tomorrow until the end of the month. Iloilo City’s MECQ status, on the other hand, would be extended for another 15 days.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved last night the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for this MECQ status of Iloilo city and province.
Bacolod City, for the fifth straight month, will still be under MGCQ amid rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Aklan, Antique, and Capiz also remain under MGCQ until the end of June.
REQUEST FOR GCQ
Yesterday, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas said he requested for a GCQ status instead of an MECQ extension. He planned to gradually reopen non-essential business establishments so that economically displaced employees can go back to work.
“I hear the cry of our small business owners. I understand that people are starving. So despite our increasing COVID-19 cases we will reopen business establishments but continue to be strict with the compliance of health protocols,” said Treñas.
The city mayor said business establishments would reopen up to 30 percent capacity only and this will start on June 16, Wednesday. He came up with the decision after meeting with the Iloilo City COVID Team and representatives from the business sector.
“We are hoping everyone will comply with the policies for the safety of all,” Treñas said, reminding them that “our hospitals, quarantine facilities, frontliners, and resources are overwhelmed.”
BIZ SECTOR APPEALS
Four big business groups also appealed for more vaccines for Iloilo city and province.
In a letter to Health secretary Francisco Duque III and IATF chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) – Iloilo Chapter Inc., through its president Atty. Joebert Peñaflorida and chairman Sandra Gomez, emphasized that the present surge in COVID cases in Western Visayas highlighted the urgent need for more intensive vaccination.
“Iloilo City and Iloilo Province serve as the center of economic and political activities in Region 6. Their critical role in balancing the health and economic well-being of the region cannot be overemphasized,” PCCI stressed.
The Iloilo Business Club (IBC) made a similar appeal.
“This public health situation directly impacts out local economy and the business sector is suffering from the effects of strict quarantine protocols. All sectors have been working with the city and provincial governments to curb the spread of infection and we look forward to a more intensive vaccination drive in the coming weeks,” according to IBC vice chairman Engineer Terence Uygongco.
Meanwhile, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. (FCCCII) through its president, Vicente Tang stressed that a faster inoculation of the population would prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
For its part, the Iloilo Economic Development (ILED) Foundation Inc. led by Angel Leon Jr. and Uygongco warned of “greater economic fallout, more school closures, more healthcare disruptions” if COVID-1 9 is not contained via vaccination.
‘INCREASE BED CAPACITY’
In Duterte’s “Talk to the People” national address last night, Duque said they were closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Western Visayas. He urged hospitals to increase their bed capacity.
“Tumaas ang healthcare utilization rate ng Region 6 ng anim na porsyento nitong nakaraang linggo,” Duque reported to Duterte.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa mga local chief executives para ipaalala sa kanila pong mga ospital, kasama ang local government hospitals, at private hospitals na palawigin ang kanilang COVID-19 bed capacity,” he added.
Treñas earlier lamented that the Western Visayas felt left out by the national government in terms of pandemic response.
As of June 14, Western Visayas had 11,820 active cases. Iloilo City had 2,734 followed by Negros Occidental with 2,379 and Iloilo province with 2,377.
Bacolod City followed the three Region 6 areas with 1,946 active cases; Aklan with 874, Capiz with 772, Antique with 513 and Guimaras with 225. The region also posted a total of 1,295 COVID deaths./PN
