‘Strictly implement ECQ, otherwise it is useless’

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana, Negros Occidental said Thursday that the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) geared to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should be implemented strictly otherwise it will be useless.

Mangilimutan issued the statement amid reactions posted on social media that entry and exit points to and from La Castellana are very strict.

“It is for the good of everybody.”Mangilimutan said.

She also clarified that they are not charging for the travel pass in the town.

“It is free. What is being paid for by the truckers is the business and truckers permit,” Mangilimutan said

Mangilimutan lamented that there are those who take advantage of the situation and thought they can go through the town with just their travel pass.

“We really have to be strict.”

Mangilimutan added they are apprehensive with the local transmission of the virus in Bacolod City as reported by the Department of Health.

“Most of those going to La Castellana bringing food supply are from Bacolod City We have to protect our constituents as well,” she said.

Mangilimutan added that she is thankful that there is no area in the town identified as a hot zone.

She said there are only two Persons Under Investigation in the town and both are in stable condition.

“We need the cooperation of everybody, this is for us, so we have to stay home to stay safe.”

 

AID TO RESIDENTS

As to the food assistance to the residents during the ECQ Mangilimutan said she has delegated the distribution to barangay captains.

She also said that they have agreed to distribute two kilos of rice for each household in the first wave of their distribution which started Monday.

More than 17,000 households were provided with rice assistance, although there were complaints that some did not receive the food assistance.

Mangilimutan said the town allocated P3.3 million from its Quick Response Fund (QRF) to address the problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said this was utilized to augment the assistance from the provincial government and provide food and cash assistance to PUIs and persons under monitoring as well as frontliners engaged in the fight against COVID -19.