‘A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM’: Economic recovery on top of Iloilo City’s MGCQ agenda

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas assured residents Saturday evening that the city’s new Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status will lead to more economic activities, which he expects to deliver more employment available.

The city shifted to the more permissive MGCQ on New Year’s Day, as announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Last Dec 28, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte retained the city under the “slightly stricter” GCQ status.

Treñas appealed Duterte’s decision on Dec. 29, citing the downtrend in new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city.

According to the latest Omnibus Guidelines by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), the MGCQ is a “transition phase” between GCQ and the “New Normal”, with “relaxed” and “less necessary” measures imposed.

Several departures from GCQ to MGCQ according to the Omnibus Guidelines, aside from observance of minimum public health standards include:

 

– The movement of persons aged 15-years-old and below, as well as those aged 65 and above, may now be allowed to travel outside of their homes for tourism purposes, as determined by the Local Government Units (LGUs), and subject to prior consultation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

– Indoor and outdoor non-contact sports and exercise activities including jogging, walking, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, and skateboarding are allowed, provided that no sharing of equipment is also observed;

– Mass gatherings which include movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, religious services, and work conferences will be allowed, but limited to 50 percent of the seating or venue capacity;

– Limited face-to-face classes in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will be allowed, consultation with LGUs, and compliance with guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

– Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) may be allowed at 50 percent training and assessment site capacity, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) guidelines, and LGU consultation;

– Work in all public and private offices may be allowed to resume physical reporting at full capacity, with alternative work arrangements still to be observed for those aged 60 years and above, as well as those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, other health risks, and pregnant women;

– Road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors of public transportation shall be allowed to operate at capacity in accordance with guidelines by the Department of Transportation (DOTr);

– All public and private construction projects will be allowed subject to guidelines by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for implementation of infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

– Establishments classified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under Category IV, including Internet and Computer Shops, Testing Centers, Tutorial and Review Centers, Language, Driving, Performing Arts Schools, Entertainment Industries, Kids’ Amusement Industries, Libraries, Tourist Destinations, Other Personal Care Services, and Pet Grooming Services, among others, will be allowed at 50 percent capacity and subject to several specific purposes only.

 

In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo on Saturday, Treñas said that the full MGCQ guidelines for the city will be released today, Jan. 4, 2021.

He added that the Iloilo City Government’s thrust for the MGCQ status is to stimulate economic activity to provide more jobs as they work towards economic recovery.

He added, however, that the same rules on the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks will still be prohibited under the MGCQ.

This means that alcoholic drinks will only be sold in the city up to 6 pm, and establishments are not allowed to host gatherings with alcoholic drinks being consumed.

 

“We will release them on Monday. Our assurance is that we will do everything which we can do under MGCQ, so that there will be additional economic activities by our people, at the same time, there will be jobs. Because when there are more economic activities, there will be more employment available to our people,” Treñas said.

 

The mayor said he was also working out arrangements with the DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to allow the city’s residents to pay less for their COVID-19 swab tests.

He added that the city government will be pushing for many projects in the year 2021, with expectations of continuing cooperation by Ilonggos in observing minimum public health standards to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

As to the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, he said that he will report developments to the public “as soon as they are definite”.