By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Some local chief executives in Western Visayas will retain their policies on containing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in their areas after the announcement of their respective quarantine classifications Thursday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced Thursday that Iloilo City and Iloilo province would remain under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) status until July 22.
“For MECQ, in Region 6, Iloilo City and Iloilo province but only until July 22. If the numbers do not improve, it is possible that the classification of Iloilo City and Iloilo [province] may change,” Roque said in a live-streamed announcement.
Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Bacolod City moved to General CQ (GCQ) with heightened restrictions also until July 22, while Guimaras and Negros Occidental are under regular GCQ.
In separate interviews, Governors Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo and Rhodora Cadiao of Antique, Vice-Governor John Edward Gando of Guimaras, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said they would retain their current community quarantine measures.
ILOILO CITY AND PROVINCE
The city and province of Iloilo stopped short of experiencing another hard lockdown amid COVID-19 as the national government granted their appeals Thursday to remain under MECQ.
It was reported on Tuesday, July 13, that the national task force handling the COVID-19 response recommended to place the city and province under the very restrictive ECQ from July 16 to 30.
Treñas and Defensor confirmed the information to Daily Guardian.
The two local chief executives on Wednesday sent their respective appeals to the national government, citing lower number of new COVID-19 cases and the possible negative economic effects of imposing the ECQ.
In a press briefing after Roque’s announcement, Defensor said he would retain the current MECQ policies for now by issuing Executive Order 222-A to reflect the MECQ extension until July 22 only.
He nixed the idea of any suggested adjustments, including loosening restrictions on in-place dining and travel restrictions.
“We cannot adjust right now. Based on our experience, so that there wouldn’t be difficulty, any adjustments should be placed well, and let’s just level off with the counterparts in the national government. As of this time, you cannot just go out of the parameters of the [IATF-MEID] guidelines until July 22,” Defensor said.
He reiterated his stance against placing the province under ECQ, citing three main factors – civil liberties, business and commerce, and resources and logistics.
“It would be difficult for people to be home quarantined under ECQ. We cannot go back to that regime anymore. If you impose community quarantine, when you look at its viability and sustainability, how does your community quarantine affect civil liberties? Your right to go out of your own house is affected. When the economic considerations are already heavier, you have to shave off your health protocols, because how you should balance is based on the prevailing socio-economic conditions,” the governor said.
Treñas released a statement via his Facebook page Thursday, thanking the (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) IATF-MEID for considering his appeal.
He also hoped that the MECQ status would be retained beyond July 22.
Like Defensor, Treñas said in a phone interview that there will no changes to Iloilo City’s current rules.
“Despite the quarantine status, we can still be able to open some of the businesses and help our fellow Ilonggos earn a living for their families. I have seen a lot of reactions and grief from the news we heard a few days ago, and we are very happy that we can still be able to go on with our lives. We are hoping that the National Government will continue to assist our battle and will extend or lower our quarantine status after the 22nd,” Treñas said in his Facebook post.
ANTIQUE
Cadiao, who was not aware of their province’s GCQ status when reached by Daily Guardian via phone, could not hide her happiness to the point that she sang and laughed out of sheer relief.
The IATF-MEID initially proposed to place Antique under the more restrictive MECQ, which prompted the governor to file an appeal.
Cadiao said there will be no changes to their policy, and that they expect communication from the national IATF-MEID to guide their GCQ implementation.
“I’d like to thank the regional and national [IATF-MEID] for giving weight to our request as Regional Development Council chairperson. I am hoping and praying that they give consideration to the requests of governor and mayors. We promise to help in our fight against COVID-19 since we asked for the consideration. We will take responsibility and help the regional task force in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the region,” Cadiao said.
GUIMARAS
Unlike their immediate neighbors, the island province of Guimaras did not appeal their elevation to GCQ, according to Vice Governor Gando, citing their existing restrictions and current COVID figures.
Gando said they will continue to maintain their COVID protocols, and that non-essential travel to the island, particularly for leisure purposes, will still be prohibited.
“Our active cases here are more than 100, and [the IATF-MEID] GCQ guidelines are consistent with the existing protocols of the provincial government. So far, there will be no changes,” Gando told Daily Guardian.
