Iloilo City is now preparing to shift from the current enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to the general community quarantine (GCQ) starting May 1, Mayor Jerry Treñas said on Wednesday.

The mayor met with Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) members and Covid-19 team on Wednesday to prepare for the downgrading of the community quarantine.

During a press conference, Treñas said they agreed to continue the food assistance for the whole month of May, provide food for front-liners and proceed with the community kitchen until middle of June.

He also met with the ad-hoc committee to synchronize their rules with the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

He said the exit plan prepared by professors of the University of the Philippines Visayas will be used as long as it is consistent with the guidelines of the national task force.

The Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have agreed to allow taxis to operate.

While they still have to wait for the IATF guidelines for public transport, they will allow 20 percent of the total jeepneys in the city to ply. They will also allow tricycle and trisikad to operate in the meantime.

“Even if PUJs, they will not be allowed to have 100 percent capacity,” he said.

The curfew will be done in three phases but they have yet to discuss with the ad-hoc committee.

Those coming from the province will have to show their quarantine pass. The liquor ban also stays.

Iloilo province remains under the enhanced community quarantine until May 15.

“We will still require the same ECQ passes. The police, members of the city health office and our Armed Forces are still there,” he said.

The city government will no longer implement the weekend block off while the use of quarantine pass may no longer be required.

Senior citizens and those below 21 years old are still prohibited from going out.

Treñas said while businesses that are allowed to operate under the GCQ will proceed, there are those that may have to start after May 15 because most of their workers would still come from the province.

He said measures that were put in place during the ECQ such as social distancing, use of alcohol and sanitizer, wearing of face mask, and temperature check, have to be observed.

An ordinance will be enacted to penalize violators. (PNA)