NO APPEAL. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. says the province will not appeal its latest modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status. In a press conference on Friday (Oct. 1, 2021), he said the province will continue to monitor in the next seven days and seek an appeal if the declining trend of its Covid-19 cases continues. (PNA file photo)
ILOILO CITY – The province of Iloilo will not appeal its current modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status even as Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Friday signed Executive Order (EO) 305-D extending its implementation until Oct. 15, 2021.
In a press conference, Defensor, however, said the provincial government will continue to monitor for the next seven days if the declining trend in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues.
“We don’t have to wait until Oct. 15. We just want to make sure that the direction of Covid-19 is likewise similar to our direction in the loosening up of our quarantine measures,” he said.
He said Covid-19 cases significantly declined but this is still not on a "comfortable level".
The occupancy rate of the province’s 13 district hospitals and one provincial hospital is still at 67 percent.
The daily average rate (ADAR) of the province is 179.5 while 8.6 percent of every 100,000 population gets infected by the Covid-19.
He added that the growth rate in the past two weeks is already at negative 47.
“We will observe the next seven days. If we continue with the trend, then we can appeal,” he said.
As of Sept. 30, the province has 5,073 active cases, 784 deaths and 26,392 recoveries based on the latest data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
In his EO 305-D, Defensor said indoor dine-in services will already be allowed at 10 percent venue capacity and 50 percent for outdoor dining.
Food establishments with Safety Seal Certification may operate beyond the 10 percent limitations for their indoor dine-in.
Further, beauty salons and parlors, barbershops and nail spas can already operate at an initial 30 percent capacity or beyond if they have the Safety Seal Certification.
Accommodation establishments with valid accreditation from the Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be allowed to operate as isolation facilities, quarantine hotels, while multiple and regular hotels are allowed to accommodate guests.
In another order, EO 306-D, the governor also maintained restrictions on inbound travel of non-residents of the province.
The province will only accept Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR), returning residents of the province, overseas Filipino workers, and residents of Iloilo City and Guimaras. (PNA)
