Stricter MECQ looms over city

The rapid rise of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Iloilo City has prompted authorities to recommend the much stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Mayor Jerry Treñas announced on Thursday that the Iloilo City COVID-19 team has recommended placing the city under MECQ for a period of 15 days to manage the increasing Covid-19 cases.

However, the mayor said the official declaration shall come from the national Inter-Agency Task Force.

“All protocols for MECQ under our EO but the official declaration shall come from IATF – I am coordinating with Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Sec. Eduardo Año, Sec. Carlito Galvez, Sec. Karl Nograles and Sec. Francisco Duque,” he said.

According to the mayor, Lorenzana and Año support the move to place Iloilo City under MECQ.

Treñas said he is also closely coordinating with the regional task force and the regional directors of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Health (DOH).

The COVID-19 team also requested for the suspension of all flights of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (ROFs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs) for 10 days.

“This will give us time to attend to the rising cases. We also did not recommend border controls because we do not want business establishments to be so much affected, and also the Boracay resorts which are opening already. We further recommended that PUVs continue to service the city routes as long as 1-meter distancing is observed by them,” Treñas added.

On Thursday, Treñas issued Executive Order No. (EO) No. 149 amending EO No. 140 and mandating stricter protocols in Iloilo City starting from September 24 to October 9.

EO 140 placed the city under the more permissive Modified General Community Quarantine early this month.

The EO imposes a total liquor ban in Iloilo City and mandates the 50% venue capacity of restaurants.

The mayor also ordered public markets to be closed by 5 p.m.

EO 149 also banned the following activities:

Holding of traditional cockfighting and operation of cockpits;

Beerhouses and similar establishments whose primary business is serving of alcoholic drinks (e.g. nightclubs. pubs, and other similar establishments);

Children’s amusement industries (e.g. playrooms, rides, and other similar establishments);

Barbershops, salons, and like establishments;

All other establishments offering personal care and aesthetic procedures and services;

Gyms and fitness studios (including sports facilities), g. Testing and tutorial services. h. Review centers;

Internet cafes provided that the computer and internet services will be used strictly for educational purposes or for work only;

Drive-in cinemas;

Pet grooming services;

Language driving. dance/acting/voice schools;

Entertainment industries (e.g. traditional cinemas, theaters, and like businesses);

Libraries. archives. museums and cultural centers;

Tourist destinations (e.g. water parks, beaches, resorts. and like businesses);

Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services, and related activities;

Tattoo and body piercing;

Live events, including conferences, seminars, and other like gatherings; and

Other forms of unauthorized public gatherings.

As of 12 p.m. on Thursday, Iloilo City recorded 21 new additional COVID -19 cases which were all local transmission cases.

Out of this number, six are employees of City Hall involving a job hire, one from the City Mayor’s Office (CMO); two from General Services Office (GSO); and two from the City Budget Office. (ERS).