Cebu city mayor, governor disagree over quarantine status
Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved the request of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella to downgrade the status of Cebu City from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ) starting June 1 until June 15.
Cebu City was originally classified as the lone local government unit (LGU) in the country that would stay on MECQ starting June 1. But President Duterte on Thursday included the city with the rest of the LGUS in Central Visayas that were placed on modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the lowest form of lockdown enforced by the government.
Labella, however, did not want the city to be either on MECQ or MGCQ. Acting on Labella’s appeal, the IATF-EID decided to allow Cebu City to be under GCQ under June 15. But it also placed the rest of Central Visayas under the same category just when these areas were getting ready to transition to MGCQ, namely, the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-lapu and Cebu province on Cebu Island; and the provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor.
In a radio interview on Saturday, Labella said Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the COVID-19 National Action Plan, told him that the IATF wanted a uniform category for Cebu Island.
“GCQ is what fits Cebu City. A modified GCQ is too liberal. It’s too premature to place the city under modified GCQ,” Labella said.
Manipulated
Labella added that even while on GCQ, some sitios (subvillages) in the city would remain on lockdown due to the rising number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
The city has recorded 2,144 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, however, objected to the decision of the IATF-EID to extend the province’s status under GCQ. She said the province, unlike Cebu City, is ready to shift to MGCQ. Cebu City is a highly urbanized city not under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
“This (GCQ) is not what the province intends to do. We cannot remain under GCQ. We should move on to the next level and beyond that because we’re ready for that,” Garcia said in a meeting with mayors of Cebu province at the Capitol on Saturday.
“We’re being manipulated to satisfy some sinister, greedy goal,” she added.
The governor was meeting with the mayors of the towns and cities of the province to prepare for MGCQ when informed that the province would remain under GCQ.
Garcia said she would appeal to the IATF-EID to downgrade the province’s status to MGCQ.
Difference
Under GCQ, several nonessential industries will be allowed to reopen but only at 50 percent to 75 percent of their capacity. Public transport will also be allowed to resume operations, also at reduced capacity. Those below 20 years old and 59 years old and above are still not allowed to go out unless on essential errands. Religious gatherings are permitted but there must only not more than 10 attendees.
Under MGCQ, restrictions on movement, regardless of age, and of travel will be lifted, among others. But the public will still be required to adhere to health protocols, such as social distancing and the wearing of face masks.
Felix Taguiam, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businessmen in Cebu have prepared for the reopening of their establishments, even at just 50 percent of capacity.
“For us in the business sector, any kind of quarantine is all right as long as we will be allowed to resume operations even at 50 percent only. That would be very good in the meantime,” he said.