BY IME SORNITO and GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – Two more weeks. The enhanced community quarantine in this city would be extended, announced Mayor Jerry Treñas on Tuesday night.
In Iloilo province, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is seriously considering the same. He cited the rising number of persons under monitoring (PUMs) for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
The quarantine period in both this city and Iloilo province are scheduled to end on April 14.
According to Treñas, the extension will be until April 30.
He consulted, among others, medical doctors and businessmen before deciding, he stressed.
The city’s chief executive is taking cue from the national government which extended the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon Island up to April 30.
On Defensor’s part, he said the quarantine extension in the province would likely be until April 30, too.
“Ang direction naton, ma-extend kita. Maybe tomorrow (April 8) ang desisyon mahuman na aton,” he said on Tuesday.
The number of PUMs is rising, he said, due to the assiduous contract tracing being made every time a COVID-19 case is confirmed.
As of April 7, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province was at 13.
PUMs are being subjected to 14 days of home quarantine.
Iloilo province and city started their enhanced community quarantine on March 20. People were advised to stay at home and go out only for basic and/or emergency purchases and matters such as buying medicines and food. With a few exemptions, all public and private offices, schools, churches, and businesses temporarily ceased their operations.
Only vital establishments are allowed to operate such as hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores, and gas stations, among others. Public transport stopped, too.
Limiting the movement of people aims to also limit or even stop the transmission of COVID-19
“We are at war with something we can’t see,” said Treñas.
A curfew is also being enforced from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“We are doing this because we understand our responsibilities as the regional center for trade in Western Visayas,” said Treñas.
In Metro Manila on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine until April 30, the interagency task force on COVID-19 announced.
The quarantine, which placed about 110 million people under quarantine, was set to be lifted by midnight of April 13.
The measure suspended public transportation, prohibited mass gatherings and even ordered the temporary closure of some businesses, excluding hospitals, groceries and drug stores, and other essential establishments.
As of April 7, the Philippines recorded 3,660 cases of COVID-19 and 163 fatalities./PN
