BACOLOD CITY—Local government units in Negros Occidental doubt if they could sustain a lockdown extension against coronavirus in terms of funds needed to continue providing food for residents, according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
“That is not only the sentiments here in Negros Occidental but in all provinces,” said Lacson.
“It will be very difficult for LGUs to sustain this but if we have to remain under ECQ then we will have to stay that way,” he said.
Lacson issued an executive order that placed the province under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to stop the transmission of coronavirus. It was set to end on April 30 though an extension has not been ruled out.
“If we continue with an ECQ, it will also mean that the LGUs will have to continue feeding their people and obviously our resources are not infinite,” he said.
Lacson said the local governments are fortunate that the national government agreed to a grant to stretch the financing capacity of LGUs to sustain feeding programs for households who lost sources of income because of the lockdown.
Negros Occidental, so far, has two COVID-19 cases.