MikeLigalig.com

ILOILO CITY – The local government here will wait for the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on the recommendation to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the metropolis until May 15.

 

In a media interview on Friday, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told him the task force would like to know certain data such as the availability of isolation centers, testing centers, and test kits.

 

The Inter-Agency Task Force recommended that the ECQ in Iloilo and Antique be extended until May 15 but is subject for re-checking.

 

Treñas said if the national government will extend the ECQ in the city, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide food assistance, among others.

 

“But I want everyone to know that we move toward (the) gradual exit of the ECQ,” he said.

 

Treñas said the city is adversely affected economically since the ECQ was implemented in March. 

 

He admitted they are worried because the city has also its obligations.

 

He added that if the ECQ is extended, the proposed exit plan presented by professors from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) will proceed once it is lifted.

 

“We are ready with the study. It only needs little polishing and will be ready to be submitted for critiquing,” he said.

 

The UP professors on April 20 presented a working draft of the study on “Gradual Easing of Enhanced Community Quarantine Scheme in Iloilo City: Inputs to the Lockdown Exit Plan” as the city already started to plan out for the lifting of the ECQ supposedly after April 30.

 

Meanwhile, the mayor met with the city’s Finance Team for a discussion of economic measures that will be implemented for the rest of the year.

 

Iloilo City is one of the cities in the country that is not dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) fund. 

 

He said 60 percent of the city’s revenue is dependent on local income, and 40 percent comes from IRA.

 

“We will be waiting for them. They promised to release (their recommendations) as much as possible Wednesday or Thursday next week so that we will be guided whether we go on modified community quarantine, or if the ECQ is extended,” he said. (PNA)



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