THE Cebu Provincial Government will start to implement its Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) plan and uplift the tourism industry that was affected during the community quarantine imposed in the province to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

This was announced by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia during a livestreamed press conference of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

Last Tuesday, June 30, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the downgrading of Cebu Province's quarantine status from general community quarantine (GCQ) to a much more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). Cebu Province, excluding Talisay City and the towns of Consolacion and Minglanilla, has been placed under MGCQ until July 15.

The ECD plan was organized last April when Cebu Province was still under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Garcia said the ECQ status made her realize that the food supply in the province was not enough.

The governor said she would focus on agricultural production, adding that she wanted "to focus on being able to provide oportunities" for her constituents.

Cebu Province has around 12 feed mills, but only one percent of these mills supply food products to the province, according to Garcia. (ANV & JJL)