Labella: Experts’ say vital to lifting ECQ

CEBU, Philippines —  After the strategic mass testing ended last week, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has disclosed that the city's next step will be to coordinate with health officials, as well as public and private sectors.

Labella said such is necessary to come up with a decision with regard to the current status of the city which is under a state of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked on the possibility of the lifting or extending of ECQ after May 31, 2020, he said he cannot answer at this point.

The mayor said the voice of the experts will play an important role in making the decision.

“We have to be very careful, circumspect about this,” said Labella.

It was midday of March 28 when Labella placed the city under ECQ to intensify measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The declaration was supposed to end midday of April 28.

However, six days before the declaration ended, he extended the ECQ in the city until May 15 due to the continuous increase of cases.

On May 15, Labella issued an executive order placing the city, which is classified as high-risk for COVID-19 infections, under modified ECQ.

The order came after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he approved the recommendation to extend the ECQ in Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City until May 31 with modifications in protocols.

On May 16, it was announced that Cebu City, along with Mandaue City, will remain under ECQ until May 31, 2020.

This according to Resolution No. 37 passed by the Inter-Agency Task Force-Emerging Infectious Disease, which was released early morning of May 16.

Whether the city will remain under ECQ or will be downgraded to MECQ after May 31, Labella has one appeal to the public -- discipline.

He is asking the residents of the city to have discipline among themselves.

He said they should strictly comply with the protocols of the city such as the mandatory wearing of mask in public places, mandatory stay at home order, and observing social distancing, among others.

“The people should adopt discipline so that we can contain the spread of the virus,” said La

The strategic community testing is part of Project Balik Buhay spearheaded by the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu in close coordination with the Department of Health in Central Visayas and Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).

This aims to generate scientific data on the number of COVID-19 cases in the three cities, enabling the city governments to come up with calibrated, scientific, evidence-based, and data driven decisions and policies.

Based on results of the mass testing, the city government shall decide whether or not to extend the ECQ imposed in the city or transition into amodified community quarantine or a general community quarantine. JMD (FREEMAN)