ILOILO City – This southern city and the province of Iloilo no longer require travel or quarantine passes despite being under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). There are no border restrictions, too.
Mayor Jerry Treñas and Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. issued their respective executive orders detailing ECQ protocols on Saturday.
ECQ is the highest quarantine classification to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Both the city and province observe a 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.
There’s no liquor ban. However, in Iloilo City sale of alcoholic beverages is allowed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. only while the province prohibits selling alcohol between curfew hours. Public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in both city and province.
Public transport, on the other hand, is allowed at 50 percent capacity in accordance with the guidelines from the Department of Transportation.
Commercial flights and trips at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town continue unhampered as these cater to authorized persons outside residence (APORs), returning residents and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Sea trips at the ports here and in Dumangas, Iloilo also continue.
Tourism destinations and entertainment venues remain closed. Courts in all public plazas are open in the province while the city observes otherwise.
Hotels and other accommodation establishments can operate in the city (50 percent capacity) while those in the province are not allowed to, except for the purpose of catering to returning residents and returning Filipinos from abroad.
Dining establishments are allowed to open but there shall be no dine-ins.
Meanwhile, allowed to operate at full on-site capacity are the following:
* public and private hospitals, agriculture industry, logistics service provider, essential or priority construction projects whether public or private, food and other essential goods manufacturers, construction supplies, hardware supplies, bicycle shops, public markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies/drugstores, water refilling stations, laundry shops, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies
Allowed to operate at maximum 50% on-site capacity:
* Media establishments
Allowed to operate at skeleton workforce on-site:
* Dental, optometry and other medical clinics, veterinary clinics, banks, money transfer services including pawnshops, water supply, janitorial services, telecommunications providers, energy sector – gasoline stations, power companies, funeral and embalming services, security personnel/services, printing establishments, motor vehicle repair shops, and lawyers/legal services
Wakes, inurnments and funerals are allowed in Iloilo City (maximum of three days) and province (maximum of five days). Only immediate family members are allowed to attend the ceremonies.
Mass gatherings are still strictly prohibited.
Religious gatherings are allowed in the city (10 percent venue capacity) while the province restricted these to online only.
Weddings and baptisms are also allowed for both areas but with immediately family only.
Those who came in close contact with a COVID-positive individual have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
COVID vaccination activities in the city and province remain unhampered.
People above 65 years old and below 18 years old, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities, those with immune-deficiencies and other risk factors, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are restricted to go out except for essential purposes.
The province of Iloilo has also not implemented border control with the neighboring provinces Capiz and Antique. However, Defensor is encouraging residents of the said provinces not to travel to Iloilo, especially if they got no essential transactions.
The governor said he would also let the neighboring provinces decide if they would allow their constituents to enter Iloilo.
“We will use the interzonal guidelines nga kon ECQ kita dapat indi sila diri magkadto. Amo man kita pero indi naton pagtandugon. It’s really up to them right now kay ngaa kita ang may mataas nga quarantine classification,” added Defensor.
The governor also reminded the Ilonggos to always observe the minimum health standards.
“Indi kamo ma-stress kay importante ang minimum public health standards sa gihapon. Kay liwaton ko ang aton kadalag-an waay ‘ni sa community quarantine. Waay ni sa ECQ or MECQ (modified ECQ),” Defensor said.
“Paumod kag sakripisyo… Mag-maskara, distansya kag indi lang kamo magtipon-tipon nga makaon kag mahukas sang facemask,” he added.
On the other hand, Treñas assured that the city will do what it can do and with the support of fellow Ilonggos who have pledged to help.
“I know this is a very hard time for most of us, but the city government will do the best we can to help my people. I am also requesting everyone to support businesses in the city so they can also sustain their families. We are hoping that we will also be assisted by the national government during this time,” said Treñas.
Treñas also could not help but express his sentiment as the city was placed on ECQ.
“In this first day of ECQ, I realized this is the first time in my life that my level of frustration got the better of me. Since I was in high school I have already aspired to serve. And during my student activism days in college the aspiration became a passion. In my desire to serve I can be very focused and passionate about what’s best for my fellow Ilonggos,” Treñas expressed.
He added that is very frustrating when the city does not have enough vaccines.
“It can be very exasperating when I hear pleas from my fellow Ilonggos not to put us under ECQ because people’s jobs and sources of income are affected and that I have to plead to stop the ECQ from happening. This pandemic continues to pose challenges which are sometimes beyond our control,” he added.
Treñas noted that the city started organizing again its 135 Uswag Community Kitchens.
The city government has also finalized the roll-out of barangay-based vaccination centers to be able to inoculate its remaining senior citizens.
“Life may be tough now but if we work together as one Ilonggo people we will be able to surpass this. Let us pray for the Ilonggos battling against COVID-19 that they will be able to overcome this challenge. And also don’t forget to check on each other in (these) trying times. Together we can do this! Bato Iloilo! Kayanon ‘ta ‘ni!” Treñas said./PN
