By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairperson of the Bacolod Inter-Agency Task Force said Tuesday that sliding to the more relaxed General Community Quarantine (GCQ) does not mean the people can do as they wish due to the threats of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
This city’s quarantine status will be downgraded to GCQ on October 1 -30, 2020 from Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) as announced by Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque late night Monday.
“The GCQ status does not mean we can do as we wish,” Familiaran said.
He appealed to the people for cooperation by observing health protocols.
Familiaran said Mayor Evelio Leonardia is expected to issue an executive order in line with the GCQ status.
Once the city slides to the GCQ status, the Home Quarantine Pass (HQP) will be suspended and some check-up points will be dismantled.
Familiaran said that placing the city under MECQ helped the city government contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
On Monday night both Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Bacolod Lone District Congressman Greg Gasataya wrote concerned national officials to ease the quarantine status of the city due to economic losses brought about by the MECQ status.
In his letter to Secretary Carlito Galvez. Jr., IATF-EID Chief Implementer, appealed in behalf of the business sector, transport groups and other affected sectors to ease the quarantine status of the city.
He also pushed for a rationalized granular lockdown of infected areas, resumption of public transportation for the revitalization and recovery of businesses; and formulation of proactive policies to address virus containment, business continuity, livelihood and employment and recapitalization micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Gasataya said the stricter lockdown measure from Sept 8 to 30, 2020 has caused “considerable economic losses to the people of Bacolod City, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and public utility vehicles drivers who have lost their means of income.”
Leonardia asked for the de-escalation of the community quarantine status citing “significant indication of a continuous reduction of additional cases in the city.”
