WEEKEND BLOCK OFF: City to impose expanded ECQ to further restrict movement

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Residents in Iloilo City will no longer be allowed to leave their homes during weekends except for medical emergencies under the expanded enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to be enforced by the city government.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the total block off during weekends is needed to prevent residents from wandering outside their houses and prevent the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Starting this week, Saturday and Sundays will be totally blocked off for everyone except only to buy medicines. We will no longer allow anyone to go outside their houses on Saturdays and Sundays except to buy medicines,” he said in a press conference Monday.

The mayor said he noticed that many Ilonggos disregard the mandate to stay in their homes amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“We noticed that everyone is going out of their houses and we will no longer allow that. I-ubrahon ta na kay kanugon man sang naubrahan ta na for several weeks now. Tanan kita nagasakripisyo pero abi nila daw bakasyon lang nga wala ubra,” he added.

Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 63 on Monday mandating the strict implementation of the expanded enhanced community quarantine in the metro.

Under the expanded ECQ, no persons shall be allowed to go out of their houses on April 18 to April 19 and April 25 to April 26, 2020.

Exempted from the expanded ECQ are residents who need to go to either the hospital or pharmacy or drug store provided that they have quarantine pass and wear a mask in public; health care personnel provided they present an identification card; and media practitioners provided that they shall first secure a permit from the city government.

The expanded ECQ also exempts essential government personnel, Iloilo City Emergency Response Team, and other personnel from the city government as ordered by the mayor.

During the expanded ECQ, all establishments and business operations of whatever nature (including sari-sari stores, talipapas, and small-scale convenience stores) shall be closed except for hospital, drug stores, medical clinics, and funeral services.

Establishments who operate beyond 8 p.m. may be allowed to operate during the period of expanded ECQ provide that they shall provide for the accommodation of their personnel who render work during this period.

All borders of Iloilo City including land and sea borders shall also be closed during said dates.

The mayor has instructed barangay officials and personnel overseeing the checkpoints to ensure that those who leave their houses have quarantine passes.

“We are asking the barangays and also those holding the checkpoints to make sure that everyone who goes out of their houses should have quarantine pass,” he said.

The mayor warned that appropriate administrative and criminal charges may be filed for those who knowingly break protocol and endanger the lives of the residents of Iloilo City.

Iloilo City has been placed under enhanced community quarantine beginning on March 20 to April 14.

The city government has extended the quarantine period to April 30.