MECQ extension in Roxas gets varied reactions

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The approval of the request of Mayor Ronnie Dadivas to extend the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) by another 15 days earned varied reactions from other city officials and residents.

According to city councilor Midelo Ocampo, the economic status of the residents, particularly those in “no work no pay” arrangement will be greatly affected as the MECQ prohibits non-essential industries.

Ocampo said businesses, particularly restaurants, eateries and bars, are also affected as they cannot cater to dine-in customers.

He added that the city government cannot give everyone assistance for lack of resources while the 10 kilo rice allowance per family is not enough.

Ocampo also claimed that the distribution of the rice assistance is selective.

“If you are identified supporters of the ‘pulahan’ group, expect that your name will not be included as beneficiaries,” he added.

Pulahan is an opposition party under losing mayoral candidate and former board member Rommel Lastimoso, the archrival of Dadivas in the last election.

A tricycle driver who asked not to be named echoed the same observation saying that they don’t earn enough because of the one-passenger policy.

Meanwhile, Dadivas is hoping that the extension would result in the decrease of COVID-19 cases in the city.

Governor Esteban Evan Nonoy Contreras has endorsed Dadivas’ request to the RIATF because of the high average daily attack rate and health care utilization.

Contreras hopes that the continued imposition of the stricter MECQ will mitigate the cases.

Roxas City recorded 30 more cases of COVID-19 on June 15, 2021.

The city now has 1,767 confirmed cases (427 active cases, 1264 recovered and 76 deaths).