MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo City has been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) effective September 25 until October 9 due to the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque the new measure is based on the issued Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 74 which also requires facility-based isolation for confirmed asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases.

However, the resolution exempts patients who are considered vulnerable or having comorbidities as confirmed by the local health officer.

Another exception would be when the Ligtas COVID-19 Centers within the region are fully occupied and the local government unit does not have sufficient isolation facilities.

On Tuesday (September 22), 33 employees of the Iloilo City Hall tested positive for COVID-19 prompting the three-day temporary closure of the establishment beginning Wednesday (September 23) as declared by Mayor Jerry Treñas in Executive Order No. 215-A.

Prior to that, 13 barangays in the city were placed under total lockdown due to the increase in community transmission of COVID-19.

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (September 7) placed Bacolod City and Lanao del Sur under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from September 8 to 30.

Duterte approved the recommendation of National COVID-19 response Chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. following reported increase in number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the said areas.

“We recommended to the IATF for the upgrading of Lanao del Sur as MECQ considering it is contagious to Iligan City and its cases also rising up,” Galvez told the President during Monday’s meeting.

“Based on the recommendation of the NTF, with consultation of Bacolod City, the cases of Bacolod City are much higher than Iligan City which is also MECQ. We will recommend Bacolod City be placed under MECQ as recommended by the IATF,” he added.

Other than Bacolod City and Lanao del Sur, Iligan City is also under MECQ until September 30.

Meanwhile, the President believes that the Philippines has already flattened the curve of COVID-19 infection which he credited to the public’s obedience to health measures imposed by the government.

He, however, advised the public to remain vigilant and always adhere to health protocols to further eliminate COVID-19 transmission.

“Remember that the lessening of contamination wala na masyadong tao nagkaroon ng COVID is not because COVID-19, the germ, is gone,” he said.

“It is there floating around us. Kaya lang ang mga tao sumunod na. Hindi humawak, alcohol kaagad. The mask was one important factor,” he said.

MANILA, Philippines — Umaapela sa Department of Transportation (DOTr) ang mga operator ng provincial buses upang payagan na silang makabyahe ngayong naibaba na sa general community quarantine (GCQ) ang quarantine restrictions sa Metro Manila.

Anila, marami na sa kanilang hanay ang hindi na makabayad ng pwesto ng terminal at sapilitan nang nagtatanggal ng kani-kanilang empleyado.

Reklamo ng Provincial Bus Operators Association, limang buwan na silang walang byahe at walang kinikita. 

Pakiusap ng presidente ng grupo na si Alex Yague, sana ay payagan na silang bumalik sa operasyon kahit paunti-unti. 

“Napakaraming OFW at saka mga locally stranded individual na naipit dito sa Metro Manila na kailangan nilang makabiyahe pauwi sa kani-kanilang probinsya,” pahayag nito na sinasabing maari nilang maihatid ang mga ito kung papayagan lamang sila.

“Pangalawa, kung kailangan natin na mabuksan ang ekonomiya natin, kailangan natin ng public transportation sa dalawang bagay na iyon. Kailangan nating gradual, provincial bus operations entering and going out of Metro Manila,” dagdag nito.

Ayon pa kay Yague, dumarami umano ngayon ang mga colorum na sasakyan na nangongontrata ng mga pasahero mula Metro Manila papuntang probinsya.

Aniya, sakaling payagan sila ng pamahalaan ay maiiwasan ang mga ganitong modus operandi dahil handa ang provincial buses na sundin ang health protocols at mas mapapadali pa aniya ang contact tracing.

Kwestionable naman para sa kanila kung bakit pinapayagan ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang pagbyahe ng mga Point-to-Point (P2P) buses mula Bulacan, Cavite o Laguna sa rutang galing ng Metro Manila.

Paliwanag ng LTFRB, hindi pa nila pwedeng payagan ang mga provincial buses galing ng National Capital Region (NCR) dahil maraming probinsya at lokal na pamahalaan ang mahigpit pa rin sa quarantine restrictions.

Marami sa kanila ang ayaw pa ring magpapasok ng mga tao mula Metro Manila dahil sa COVID-19.

“Since we’re talking about moving of people we also need to coordinate with LGUs concerned. We already had a meeting with umbrella organization of the locally elected officials kung saan nagsabi sila na a large majority of the provinces are still not willing to open their borders,” pahayag ni LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III.

“Back in August 4, two weeks ago, nagpalabas rin ng resolution ang Region 3 na humihiling  na ihinto muna ang provincial bus routes coming from Metro Manila,” dagdag nito.

Nilanaw rin ng LTFRB na ang mga pinapayagang P2P buses mula probinsya ay nagsasakay lamang ng mga pasahero na araw-araw bumibiyahe papasok at palabas ng Metro Manila dahil sa trabaho.

Iba pa ito sa mga bus na bumibiyahe ng malayuan para sa mga pasahero na minsanan lamang kung pumunta ng probinsya.

Ayon pa sa LTFRB, sa ngayon ay pinapayagan naman ang pagbiyahe ng provincial buses sa ibang mga rehiyon na tumatawid sa ibang mga probinsya kung saan mababa na ang kaso ng COVID-19.

Pagtiyak ng ahensya, patuloy ang pakikipagugnayan ng LTFRB sa mga pamahalaang panlalawigan upang maiayos ang mga itatakdang bus stops sakaling payagan na ang kanilang operasyon. MNP (sa ulat ni Joan Nano)