Bacolod gears up for ‘new normal’, NegOcc pushes for GCQ extension

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – While Bacolod City gears up for the “new normal” starting May 16, 2020, Negros Occidental on the other hand is seeking to extend the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for another 15 days to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19).

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, head of the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, confirmed to Daily Guardian here that the city government will end the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) at 11:59 p.m. Friday in compliance with the national Inter-Agency Task Force resolution.

But Mayor Evelio Leonardia will issue an executive order imposing strict observance of minimum health standards to protect the citizens from COVID-19.

Home Quarantine Passes will no longer be needed for people to go out, Familiaran said.

The city’s decision follows the national IATF Resolution No. 45.

Leonardia said that while the level of COVID-19 infection in Bacolod City is low, “it is not an assurance that it will stay that way all the time so we should not let our guard down.”

Bacolod City had 11 COVID-19 cases with deaths.

“It does not mean that COVID is no longer there, we must all stay vigilant,” Leonardia added.

Leonardia said he is issuing a transitory executive order that will define the guidelines for businesses, transportation and other sectors after the ECQ is lifted.

The mayor also said the lifting of the ECQ in Bacolod City on Friday does not mean they will completely do away with border check-up points, which will remain for security and other purposes.

Malls will be allowed to reopen but will have to follow certain guidelines, he said.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Eugenio Jose Lacson appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte, through the national IATF on COVID-19, to extend the General Community Quarantine status until the end of May 2020.

Under IATF Resolution No. 35, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City were classified as low-risk areas and shall no longer be under community quarantine by May 16.

But on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said low-risk areas will be placed under Modified General Community Quarantine.

Lacson said the extension will allow GCQ safety measures such as border control and modified  home quarantine to remain in place to safeguard Negrenses until such time that the province  has set up a fully operational  diagnostic testing facility  to conduct mass testing on incoming passengers from high risk areas.

The provincial government is aiming to complete the construction and accreditation of its COVID-19 testing bio laboratory at the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

The bio lab will enable the provincial government to increase its COVID-19 testing capacity and isolate and treat those afflicted with the virus, Lacson said.

“Only then can Negros Occidental feel truly confident in opening its economy in full force, as well as its ports and airports,” he said.

The governor said he intends to establish a protocol where all persons entering Negros Occidental should be held in a holding facility for one to two days while tests are conducted and results are released by the bio lab.

Negros Occidental had seven COVID-19 positive patients, two of whom have recovered while the four others are repatriated OFWs who remain under quarantine at the Negros Occidental Healing Center in EB Magalona.