President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the appeal of the province and city of Iloilo to extend their modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Iloilo will remain under MECQ until July 22, 2021.
MECQ is the second most stringent form of community quarantine imposed in the country.
“Kung hindi po mag-improve ang ating mga numero, posible po na mabago muli ang classification ng Iloilo City at Iloilo,” said Roque.
As of July 15, Iloilo province recorded 3,011 active cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while Iloilo City logged 1,633 active cases.
The National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) recommended to place the province and city of Iloilo under enhanced community qurantine (ECQ).
“Despite the quarantine status, we can still be able to open some of the businesses and help our fellow Ilonggos earn a living for their families,” Trenas said in a statement.
“I have seen a lot of reactions and grief from the news we heard a few days ago, and we are very happy that we can still be able to go on with our lives.”
Meanwhile, Aklan, Bacolod City, Antique, and Capiz will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” from July 16 to 22.
Guimaras and Negros Occidental will be under regular GCQ from July 16 to 31.IMT
