Mayor Jerry Treñas on Friday, June 12, said efforts to bring Iloilo City back on track are underway.
In his 2020 Philippine Independence Day message, Treñas assured Ilonggos that the city government is doing everything it can to “free Iloilo City from the clasp of the virus.”
“Currently, we are moving forward to jumpstart our economy which has suffered a setback. We are preparing a recovery plan to enliven economic activity, and give people much needed jobs,” he said.
“Ilonggos are admired for being resilient people, yet we are scared, too. We are afraid for ourselves, our loved ones, our families. But we cannot just let the virus steal away the bright future of Iloilo City. We cannot cower in fear forever. We have to overcome our fear and move forward,” he added.
The city has been placed under the community quarantine since march this year to halt the further spread of the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
“It has been a tough two and half months, with people losing their jobs and barely making ends meet, businesses closing, industries losing income,” Treñas said.
From the general community quarantine (GCQ), the city shifted to modified GCQ on June 1until June 15. The mayor is expecting that the city’s status will be downgraded to the “new normal” after the period.
“The challenge is still there, but we should always be ready to battle the burden of the new normal for us to achieve a healthy, peaceful and progressive place for all,” Treñas said.
“Just like what our forefathers taught us, we have to unite, cooperate, work together and strive harder,” he added.IMT
Photo of Treñas by Arnold Almacen
