COVID-19 CRUNCH

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

All big events from February to March 2020 in Iloilo City will be canceled, Mayor Jerry Treñas announced Monday.

Treñas said the move is part of the city’s precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“I hope maintindihan ako sang pumuluyo, waay anay kita sang mga aktibidades nga madamo para sa ini nga bulan sang Pebrero and Marso. This is for the safety of everyone,” he said.

Recently, Treñas also postponed Paraw Regatta Festival 2020 amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The annual sailing event was initially scheduled from February 23 to March 1, 2020. The mayor said they might hold the event in April.

The Department of Health also encouraged the cancellation of events that attract crowds to avoid exposure to and transmission of COVID-19.

The cancellation is seen to take a toll on the city’s accommodation sector, the lloilo Hotel Restaurants & Resorts Association (IHRRA) spokesperson Happy Abenir said.

According to Abenir, hotels in the metro are likely to feel the economic losses from the temporary postponement of scheduled big events.

“Economically wise may ara gid losses ang mga hotels but all of us have to be careful. This is part of the containment procedures of the city so that hindi kita maproblema,” she said in a separate interview on Monday.

Abenir said hotels and other establishments are now looking for ways on how to cope with the possible losses due to the restrictive measures against COVID-19.

“We try to be positive and we understand the situation. As far as I know, in Iloilo wala tayong confirmed. We are hoping that it would be kept that way but of course, we have to weather it. We are still hopeful because we know that Ilonggos are very resilient,” she said.