Bacolod, Iloilo mayors appeal stricter quarantine

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The mayors of this city and Iloilo have opposed proposals to place the two areas under stricter community quarantine status.

Mayors Evelio Leonardia and Jerry Treñas said they received information that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would place the two areas under modified enhanced community quarantine and ECQ, respectively, starting tomorrow.

Bacolod is currently under general community quarantine while Iloilo is under MECQ.

Leonardia said the Bacolod city government would appeal the quarantine classification.

“We cannot afford to add more restrictions that will extend the freeze on our economic recovery,” he said.

Leonardia said the efforts of the city government led to the reduction of COVID-19 cases by 42 percent in the past two weeks.

Treñas said many residents would lose their jobs if they shift to the strictest quarantine status.

The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development classified Bacolod as moderate risk and Iloilo as high risk for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, Mayor Ricardo Balderas of Laoac town ordered the closure of the municipal hall and nearby offices after 11 local government employees tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Tuesday, the provincial health office had recorded 34 active cases in Laoac.