Bacolod, NegOcc extend MGCQ

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued their respective executive orders extending the Modified General Community Quarantine in keeping with the orders of the national interagency task force on COVID-19.

On Wednesday night, the task force classified the two areas as medium risk areas and will remain under MGCQ until the end of July.

Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 48, Series of 2020, extending the MGCQ in Bacolod for the third time.

Lacson also extended the MGCQ in Negros Occidental until July 31, 2020.

But Lacson did not rule out the possibility of returning to GCQ should COVID-19 cases continue to increase.

In EO No. 20-32, Lacson said the province has 206 COVID-19 positive cases, and the entire country had more than 57,545.

The EO also noted the increase in the number of local transmissions.

“Because of the rising number of COVID cases in our country, there is still a need to place the province of Negros Occidental under Modified General Community Quarantine,” Lacson said.

The governor also said that although the province will remain under MGCQ, it is still best for the public to stay at home and go out only to buy essential needs.

“Be aware that we have local transmissions, protect yourself as that would also protect others. When you have been swabbed, wait for the results before you attempt to go out in public.”

All persons or establishments violating provisions of EO No. 20-32 and established health and safety protocols issued by the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will face appropriate charges.

Meanwhile, Leonardia signed Executive Order No. 47 creating the Quarantine Health Protocol Compliance Council to continually and efficiently implement laws and ordinances against the deadly coronavirus disease.

Leonardia also formed task Force Disiplina (TFD) which will be under the supervision of the Quarantine and Health Protocol Compliance Council.

Leonardia said there is a need for constant review and adjustment of existing quarantine and health protocols and issuance of guidelines for the effective control of COVID-19 and public protection from the disease.

The Quarantine and Health Protocol Compliance Council will review local orders and issuances related to quarantine and health protocols and harmonize them with existing national laws, guidelines and issuances, he added.