ECQ AID. Residents of Pasay City’s Barangay 51 receive their financial assistance on Thursday (April 8, 2021). The national government released funds for enhanced community quarantine areas, with each individual entitled to PHP1,000 and each family allowed a maximum of four recipients. (Photos courtesy of Pasay-PIO)
MANILA – Another extension of the two-week enhanced community quarantine classification in the National Capital Region Plus may be the best option to arrest rising coronavirus cases, according to Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano on Sunday.
The city government is open to an extension and prepared as basic services for its residents have long been in place.
"Kami po ay handang sumunod anuman ang desisyon ni Pangulong Duterte base sa rekomendasyon ng IATF, kasi po ang IATF ay binubuo ng maraming mga eksperto na mula sa iba-ibang sektor kaya sila ang nakakaalam kung ano ang mainam para sa lahat (We are ready to abide by any decision of President [Rodrigo] Duterte based on the Inter-Agency Task Force's recommendation because it is composed of experts from different sectors so they know what is best for everyone),” Rubiano said.
The mayor said the city's current quarantine status is still at a workable level.
"Talaga pong mababa ang ating koleksyon ngayong taon pero pinagkakasya po natin sa pamamagitan ng masinop na pag-budget at paggastos upang sa ganoon ay patuloy tayong makagbigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan (We have a very low tax collection this year but we are able to make it through prudent budgeting and spending so that we can continue to provide services to our people)," she said.
Pasay continues to distribute food packs consisting of fruits, vegetables, rice, and other ready-to-eat food to Covid-19 patients and their families.
Free cremation services are also available for Covid-related deaths, with a new crematory machine arriving next week.
The new machine is touted to cremate faster by 30 minutes to an hour than the usual process of five to six hours.
Rubiano reported the city cremated about 405 individuals who died in March.
On Saturday, Pasay logged 91 new infections that brought active cases to 609.
Of 12,566 total confirmed cases, 11,634 have already recovered and 323 died. (PNA)
