Iloilo City seeks GCQ as province stays in MECQ

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The city and province of Iloilo on Tuesday expressed different views on their community quarantine (CQ) classifications, as the national government on Monday recommended retaining their respective Modified Enhanced CQ (MECQ) statuses from July 1 to 15, 2021.

The continuation of the more restrictive MECQ in the city and province was attributed to the continuing growth in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in their areas.

The rest of the Western Visayas (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City) were recommended to be elevated to the General CQ (GCQ) status, from the current Modified GCQ, also starting on July 1.

The escalation of the quarantine status came on the heels of a recent report of the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) indicating a decrease in all of the areas’ 2-Week Growth Rate (2WGR), Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR), and Health Care Utilization Rate (HCUR).

As a whole, Western Visayas has a ‘Low’ risk rating, based on the 2WGR and ADAR averages.

The 2WGR (rate of growth of cases in an area over a 14-day period), ADAR (number of cases in an area per 100,000 population over a 14-day period), and HCUR (number of COVID-dedicated beds and mechanical ventilators utilized), are considered by the national government in determining an area’s CQ status. These are also used by local government units (LGUs) to decide on their local COVID-19 response policy measures.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed to Daily Guardian Tuesday that he sent a letter to the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) requesting a downgrade to the GCQ with heightened restrictions.

The mayor said that the GCQ appeal was based on the city’s ADAR, which decreased to 15.51 (14 days) from 24.12 (28 days), and its HCUR, which also decreased to 81.39 percent (June 27) from 85.29 percent (June 20), per recent data from DOH-WV CHD.

“I have already submitted via email our appeal for GCQ [with heightened restrictions], with basis on our ADAR, and our hospitals are also having more availability. [COVID-19] case numbers are still up and there are still many people in hospitals that’s why we opted for a GCQ with heightened restrictions instead of the regular GCQ,” Treñas said.

Should the appeal be granted, Treñas said he will implement the following changes under GCQ:

-Dine-in and al fresco dining will be allowed at regulated capacity;

-Spas, massage clinics, and gyms will be reopened; and

-Offices will be allowed to have up to 50 percent on-site capacity.

Treñas said the request was in consideration of the economic impact of the MECQ on the city, which brought about many restrictions.

“These are all guided by our sense to help also our economy revive. Otherwise, it would be difficult for us to have economic revival. We have to allow more workers to work,” he said.

If the national government rejects the appeal, Treñas said he will respect the decision, but he reiterated his stance to slightly reopen establishments for economic revival.

“This is an appeal, and if we will not be allowed, it is not something that we should die for, but as I have said, I am making this appeal because I understand what is happening to our economy right now,” he said.

NO APPEAL, BUT WITH ADJUSTMENTS

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., on the other hand, said he will opt to retain the province’s MECQ status with several changes in line with the IATF-MEID’s Omnibus Guidelines and economic considerations.

Defensor said the following changes will be made in an upcoming Executive Order to be released today:

– Full prohibition on dine-in services;

– Expiring municipal quarantine regulations; and

– Lifting of travel pass and border restrictions.

The dine-in ban follows the recommendation made by the Department of Interior and Local Government-Region 6, which is based on Section 5 of the IATF Omnibus Guidelines.

The governor previously allowed 10 percent dine-in and 50 percent al fresco dining in the province despite the DILG-6’s communication, citing the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Memorandum Circular No. 21-15 as basis.

Defensor also cited “weak” compliance of establishments with existing regulations based on his personal observation.

“Let’s maximize the protocols, and besides we have examined, gone around and observed, there is weak compliance on the protocols we established, [as to] barriers and seating arrangements, especially small establishments, so if we can’t follow protocols, I might as well follow [the Omnibus Guidelines],” Defensor said.

As to the municipal quarantine expiry today (June 30) under the governor’s Executive Order No. 175, he called it a “short-term measure” which helped the province contain the spread of COVID-19.

“It is a measure that must end, but I think it has helped us. After several weeks, we have to balance again, so we now concentrate on our reverse isolation and minimum public health standards in workplaces,” he said.

As of this writing, Defensor has yet to make a pronouncement on whether or not to extend other restrictions, including the suspension of operations of tourism establishments, and the province-wide liquor ban.