P50,000 awaits city barangays with zero COVID cases in December

The Iloilo City government will give cash prizes to barangays with zero coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases for the whole month of December as the city maintains its General Community Quarantine (GCQ) status this holiday season.

According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the award aims to inspire barangays to implement proactive measures to protect their community.

“To inspire our barangays to protect their community, we will be awarding those barangays without Covid-19 cases for the month of December with P50,000,” Treñas said.
From November 1 to November 26, Iloilo City’s average daily Covid-19 cases dropped to 12, or 77 percent lower compared to the 52 daily cases recorded last October, based on data from the Iloilo City Covid-19 Emergency Response Center.

As of 12 pm of Nov 29, no additional cases were recorded in the metro. Active cases remain at 129.

Following the recommendation of the National Interagency Task Force (NIATF), Iloilo City will remain under GCQ for the whole month of December.
With the holiday season fast approaching, Mayor Jerry Treñas issued executive order (EO) 194 last Friday which laid down protocols for the holding of Christmas and New Year celebrations amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the EO, the public is strongly encouraged to hold intimate Christmas and New Year gatherings limited to family members in the same household.

“Work or non-family related Christmas parties/gatherings are highly discouraged. Families that do not live in the same household who wish to get together for Christmas or New Year must do so in outdoor venues and with proper observance of physical distancing,” the EO said.

During gatherings, a person must be assigned to serve the food to avoid multiple people touching the serving spoon and plates.

Meanwhile, traditional gift-giving and caroling is also discouraged.

Persons, groups, or establishments who want to hold gift giving and /other philanthropic activities must ensure that standard health protocols such as (wearing of face mask and face shields/eye protectors and strict physical distancing) are strictly observed.

Proper hand hygiene when receiving/opening the gifts is also advised.

To prevent possible transmission of the virus, the city government has encouraged holding of virtual get togethers or virtual gatherings instead.

The mayor appealed for cooperation from the public to achieve the goal of the city which is a Covid-free Christmas for the Ilonggos.

“The numbers are decreasing and we hope that we will have a Covid-free Christmas through the cooperation of everyone. When we work together and follow the protocols, the sooner we can go back to our normal lives,” he said in his social media page on Sunday. (ERS)