No total lockdown in Iloilo City but more restrictions in place

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas ruled out a total lockdown in the city amid the spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

Instead, the City Hall resorted to additional localized lockdowns in barangays with clustering of cases.

On Tuesday, Treñas ordered five more barangays in Iloilo City to be placed under surgical lockdown starting 6 p.m. due to spikes in COVID-19 cases.

The barangays include Bakhaw with 5 cases; Taft North (5) Q. Abeto (5), Bolilao (4) all in Mandurriao, and Tacas, Jaro with four cases.

Due to the increasing number of cases, a total lockdown will also be imposed on selected areas of Barangay Pala-Pala 1 and Pala-Pala 2 in City Proper district and San Juan in Molo district.

“Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Pala-Pala 1 and 2 and San Juan, they will be put in total lockdown for three days effective starting 6:00 a.m. of August 12,” the mayor said in a statement in Tuesday.

Treñas issued Executive Order No. 122 on Monday imposing a full extension of the localized containment in business processes outsourcing (BPO) firm iQor, Iloilo City Terminal Market, Pala-Pala 1, Pala-Pala 2, Tanza Baybay, San Juan Molo, North Baluarte, Cuartero Jaro and the Iloilo City Fishing Port Complex to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Due to its proximity to the COVID-hit Iloilo Fishing Port Complex, the lockdown of the Iloilo Terminal Market, which will supposedly end on Aug 12, will be extended for three more days, according to the mayor.

Meanwhile, Treñas also ordered all public markets in the metro to close by 6 p.m. starting Tuesday.

Despite the continuing surge of cases, the mayor reiterated that there is no total lockdown in Iloilo City as the metro tries to control the transmission without sacrificing the economy.

“There is no total lockdown in Iloilo City, and as much as possible, we want to contain the virus without totally hampering the economy, so I would like to request everyone to be vigilant and only go out when it is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus,” he said.

He also appealed for cooperation among Ilonggos as the city sees the number of cases gradually increasing day by day.

“We cannot deny the fact that the number of cases in Iloilo City is gradually increasing day by day.

“I, together with the COVID Team and COVID Task Force have been formulating ways to help prevent the contamination of the virus in the city. I cannot do this alone. Governance is a collective effort of the governor and the governed. I also put my trust to my people to be cooperative with the protocols being set and be vigilant with their surroundings,” he noted.

Amid the rising cases, Treñas also cut his 14-day quarantine and will report to work today.

The mayor underwent quarantine last week after he was exposed to a COVID-19 patient. He underwent testing over the weekend which yielded negative results.

93 new additional cases of COVID-19 were reported in Iloilo City on Tuesday, based on Case Bulletin No. 137 of the Department of Health (DOH-6).

The city now has 376 cases with nine deaths, 77 recoveries, and 290 active cases, the highest total confirmed cases in the region so far (excluding the imported cases). (ERS)