Local government units (LGU) in the province of Antique submitted to the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) their appeal to extend the general community quarantine (GCQ) until May 30, 2020.
“We decided to submit our letter of appeal to the Regional IATF although we already knew the pronouncement of Department of the Interior and Local Governor Secretary Eduardo Año for low-risk provinces to still be under the community quarantine,” Libertad Mayor Mary Jean Te, president of League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Antique Chapter, said in an interview Thursday.
The LMP met with Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao and the Antique IATF for Covid-19 on May 13.
Te said they were in a dilemma with the recommendation for Antique to be included on the list of low-risk areas, considering that there are still confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province.
“Our province still has 17 confirmed Covid-19 cases; three of whom are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” she added.
The said OFWs were part of the first batch of returnees from Manila on April 29.
The LMP also took into account sugar migrants from Negros Occidental and the Antiqueños in Manila, who will be coming home, for their request to extend the GCQ.
An extension of the GCQ will also ensure that border restriction remains and curfew, liquor, and social distancing will still be carried out, Te added. (PNA)
