By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he has reached out to other leaders in the region to chart their path after the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) expires on May 31, 2020 despite the uncertainty on the region’s future status amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a press conference on May 27, Treñas said he has been talking to other leaders in the region so that they can start to “move on” come June 1.
“This morning I called all governors in Region 6. I also called [Mayor Evelio Leonardia] in Bacolod but right now, I can’t seem to contact him. We are arranging for a Region 6 Zoom meeting [on May 28] so we can discuss our concerns, and aside from our concerns, we really have to move on already. We understand first that COVID-19 will always be here, it will be with us,” Treñas said.
Community quarantine was imposed all over the country to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The mayor said he’s looking at either a modified GCQ or a “new normal” after May 31.
He said that he is focusing on reviving the economy post-closures.
“We are seeing by May 31 that we may be going to a modified GCQ or a new normal, but just the same, we need to be prepared and aside from our concerns, we need to look forward already. We have to revive our economy, we have to revive the businesses. The businesses which were affected, and the hotels that also closed down, we have to revive them because there are many jobs which will be lost,” he said.
He also said the city government is now in constant coordination with national government officials.
“I talked to [National Task Force on COVID-19 chief] Secretary [Carlito] Galvez, I said maybe we can get hotels to open up so they can receive OFWs, because the OWWA still has funds. And looking forward, we have to already talk to him and [Department of Interior and Local Government] Secretary [Eduardo] Año, so whatever our concerns are for Region 6 we can take it up with them,” he said.
He said he had also invited Galvez and Año to visit the region next week to see the progress made by the cities and provinces amid the health crisis.
The mayors and governors will have an online meeting with the two national officials on Friday.
COMPLIANCE OFFICERS
The mayor also announced that he will be formally launching the city’s compliance officers on Friday.
Executive Order No. 078 issued on May 20 mandated for the appointment of these officers, to check on COVID-19 prevention rules, such as social distancing and wearing of face masks.
Compliance officers were first dispatched to monitor social distancing measures at Parola Wharf, the terminal for motor boats heading to and from Guimaras province.
He said that because of the lack of proper identification at this time, some people have taken advantage and have threatened to close businesses in his name.
“We don’t want just anyone to go to businesses and ask why they’re not socially distancing and then threaten to close them. No one person can close businesses. I have never allowed the use of that power because businesses are doing their best for an income and to help their employees. We are giving them seminars so they would know their duties and so they will not abuse them,” he said.
He said that he will entertain all complaints if compliance officers have abused their duties.
“If there are any complaints about compliance officers, people can come to me, because if they are job hires, I will kick them out and if they’re permanent employees, I will have them investigated so they can be suspended. I will not allow the city government to overly use the powers given to us,” he said.
The City Council recently passed an ordinance allowing compliance officers to issue citation tickets to those who may be found violating social distancing and mask-wearing measures.
The mayor has yet to sign the ordinance as of this writing.
Data by the Department of Health has indicated as of May 27 that Iloilo City has had 18 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with four active cases, 13 recoveries, and one death.
