Albay mayors want lockdown extended

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — Mayors in Albay are asking the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to keep the enhanced community quarantine status of the province until May 15, after the province was included in areas where lockdown measures would be eased after April 30.

Libon Mayor Das Maronilla, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in Albay, said the province was not yet ready for a general community quarantine status, citing confirmed coronavirus cases still being reported in different towns.

“If this happens, for sure, we’ll go back to zero. All our efforts keeping residents from getting infected with COVID-19 is useless,” he said.

Gov. Al Francis Bichara said he would meet with the mayors of the province’s 15 towns and three cities to discuss the impact of downgrading the status of Albay to general community quarantine.

Bichara said that, nevertheless, the local IATF would still enforce border closure, checkpoints, curfew hours, social distancing and mandatory wearing of masks.

Dr. Antonio Ludovice, provincial health officer, said extending the lockdown would prevent further transmission of the virus and help control the entry of people to Albay.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said: “We need the time, that two-week period, to manage our remaining cases before we can start allowing our people, even in trickles, to roam the streets without worry.”

As of Tuesday night, Bicol region recorded 38 cases of COVID-19, 30 of whom were from Albay.

—MAR ARGUELLES AND MICHAEL JAUCIAN