Will City Hall extend Sto. Niño lockdown?

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Iloilo City government is still studying the possibility of extending or lifting the extreme enhanced community quarantine (EECQ) in a village in Arevalo district that was hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Mayor Jerry Treñas said he will seek recommendation from the Department of Health (DOH), doctors, and private medical experts on the measures that will be implemented in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo.

“Nagmeet na akon COVID-19 team, DOH, City Health Office (CHO) para istoryahan kon ano ang dapat ubrahon sa Sto. Niño Sur. I also am going to meet with a group of doctors later together with DOH, private practitioners, COVID team kay gusto ko gid maintidihan ang sitwasyon. I will get their recommendations,” he said in a press conference Thursday.

The mayor placed Sto. Niño Sur under EECQ for three days since Wednesday following the increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the area.

Treñas said one of the two new recorded cases in Arevalo district on Wednesday are in Sto. Niño Sur.

Two new cases were logged in Arevalo district on Wednesday, a 33-year-old male (WV Patient No. 85) and a 46-year-old male (WV Patient No. 88).

The total Covid-19 cases in Arevalo is seven, almost half of the 15 cases in the city, according to the Department of Health in Western Visayas -Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6).

The mayor said he also contacted DOH-CHD 6 regional director Marilyn Convocar hasten the laboratory results of the residents in Sto. Niño Sur.

Since last week, Treñas said that the city government, particularly the CHO, has conducted mass testing on the close contacts of the confirmed cases and vulnerable population of the village.

The streets and beachfront of Sto. Niño Sur were empty on the first day of the EECQ as residents are prohibited from leaving their homes.

All forms of transportation within the barangay both public and private are also restricted.

Treñas said he ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor the beachfront and streets in the village.

“The PNP will strictly monitor and rove around the said barangay, specifically at the beachfront, and the streets wherein some people keep on loitering around,” he warned.
The city government has committed to provide the 2,015 households in Brgy. Sto. Niño Sur with food assistance composed of rice, canned goods, one kilogram (kg.) of pork, one kg. of dressed chicken, and vegetables, including medicines for the residents.

“I am duly alarmed sa residents sa Sto. Niño Sur but ang akon nga message nga gusto ko ipadala sa ila is that we the city government, DOH and the national agencies sa national government are working together para sa pinakamadali nga tinion masolusyunan kag mapauntat na naton ang EECQ,” Treñas noted.