Gullas: GCQ will boost Talisay

CEBU, Philippines —  As it returns to general community quarantine (GCQ) status, Talisay City will still implement a modified enhanced community quarantine-style approach as far as the movement of people is concerned.

Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas emphasized that the GCQ status will be for the city’s economy to return to normal, not for social leisure.

Gullas thanked Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for supporting him in the city’s appeal to be downgraded from MECQ to GCQ.

“Why did we appeal for GCQ? For the sole reason na mawala ang bati na dungog sa Talisay. We appealed that we reverted back to GCQ because of the simple fact that we don’t want to have the distinction of being the only city in the whole country in a MECQ. Bati kaau toh ug dungog gud. MECQ ta human ang uban GCQ,” said Gullas.

According to Gullas, there were mistakes in the data on Talisay City provided to the IATF as they already have a lot of recoveries though he did not deny that cases are rising at the moment.

Aside from its reputation that is at stake, he said the GCQ is meant to revive the economy and for people to get back to work and earn a living.

But even with the return to GCQ, there will be strict limitation of movement, especially for non-workers and non-essential movement.

Gullas said he would ask that the police reinforcements for the city will remain.

The mayor also hopes that with everyone’s cooperation, the cases in the city will finally minimize.

As of last Friday, Talisay has 70 active cases, 53 recoveries and 24 deaths due to COVID-19.

“Please ayaw mo kasuko ani. Please understand that stricter measures in the city and the barangays mean we are also doing our part in helping our doctors, nurses, health workers and all frontliners in this war against covid.If you can’t do it for yourself, at least do it for them. They are the ones risking their lives everyday for you as well,” said Gullas.

Minglanilla

While the Province of Cebu remains under general community quarantine, the Municipality of Minglanilla has decided to take extra precautionary measures by establishing a moratorium on private businesses on Sundays.

Last Friday, Mayor Elanito Peña signed Executive Order No. 27 Series of 2020 that mandates temporary closure of all private business establishments of the town every Sunday.

Under this EO, private businesses shall temporarily close at 1 am to 12 midnight every Sunday.

The temporary closure even covers deliveries of food and other items. This includes "stocks, supplies and other products from suppliers to private establishments."

Firms that defy the new policy may face the revocation of business permits.

The EO, however, exempts pharmacies or drugstores and funeral parlors from the closure order, which was issued in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the town.

"There is at present an increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Municipality of Minglanilla," the EO reads.

"Mitigation measures should be implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases in the Municipality," it reads further.

The latest data on active cases posted in the local government units' page is dated June 15. At the time, the active cases stand at 65.

The figure is from the town’s cumulative total of 79, minus the number of 12 recoveries and two deaths. LPM (FREEMAN)