“ENHANCED community quarantine (ECQ) is inevitable in Negros that’s why the mechanics and guidelines are being prepared now.”
This was declared Wednesday, March 25, by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz as he revealed that the ECQ is set to be declared by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to start on Monday, March 30 until April 14 that will also synchronize with the declaration made by the national government.
“We want to eradicate the virus. We don’t want our war to reach our hospitals and medical fronts and we don’t want our people to get sick that’s why we will eradicate the virus in the social front,” Diaz said.
He said that while the local government units prepare for the ECQ, the provincial government is also finalizing details of an Executive Order that will put the whole province on “a virtual standstill.”
“The draft of the EO is already in the table of the governor subject for his review. We are working on the details so it can be finalized. We are also accepting suggestions from the private sectors,” Diaz said.
He assured the public that essential businesses will remain open.
Diaz said the businesses that will remain open will have a skeletal workforce.
“That means that the personnel of these businesses will have to stay put in their workplaces,” he said.
He added that they will also call on a stop of public transport to prevent the movement of people.
Diaz also revealed that on or before Friday, the province will already start the release of 800 sacks of rice for every LGU.
We will send rolling stores to far-flung barangays so that they will not have to travel, he added.
Diaz said that under the ECQ for the province, “those with private vehicles will be allowed to travel to buy their essential needs provided they have quarantine passes from the villages.
If you are not in the food production and medical field, please stay at home,” he said.
We will lift the ECQ once the numbers flatten or go down and when the national government tells us it is already ok, Diaz added.
Moreover, Diaz also revealed capitol is now preparing 25, 000 food packs ready for deployment to areas that need it.
Diaz said the packs from the provincial government will only be used if the local government units (LGUs) will run out.
However, he clarified that the first line of delivery will be the villages and the LGUs.
If it is not enough, we will step in, he said.
“We are strengthening up the system at the level of the LGU because they know how it is in the ground and immediately respond to the problems,’’ he pointed out.
He added that the target beneficiaries will be those displaced by the possible work stoppage especially those in the transport sector.
Also those listed as indigent families, 4Ps beneficiaries and identified by the mayors, he said.
“This is just an initial help. The Governor is ready to give additional assistance when needed,” he assured.
Letter of the Medical Society
The Medical Society meanwhile suggested for an ECQ.
In a letter to Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia of Dr. Ma. Ivy V. Malata, president of the Philippine Medical Association -- Canlaon Medical Society and Dr. Roberto Puerta, president of the Philippine Medical Association -- Negros Occidental Medical Society, they stated that experts have agreed that the best strategy to address this Covid-19 situation is complete isolation of communities.
“The virus will stop spreading if all people stop moving, so it will not have a new victim and will die down naturally in 2-4 weeks. We agree that there should be a city-wide, province-wide lockdown. The virus can be effectively addressed if it is contained at the level of the barangay. This would facilitate contact tracing, proper disinfection, and will also significantly flatten the curve,” they emphasized.
“Lockdown seems to be the best and only solution. Let us approach this enemy from many fronts, with one goal in mind: containment of the disease and flattening of the curve,” they added.