IATF grants Albay’s request for ECQ extension

LIGAO CITY – The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) granted the request of Albay officials for an extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until May 15 to further curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the province which has 33 confirmed cases as of Friday (May 1).

In a Facebook post Friday, Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, quoting Secretary Harry Roque, said the IATF approved the request of the Albay Mayors’ League, Legazpi City government unit and the provincial government which means Albay will undergo another 14 days of ECQ after being under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for only one day. Albay was among the areas in Luzon which was initially identified to be downgraded to GCQ status beginning May 1 after being under the Luzon-wide ECQ since March.

However, Rosal said the documents mandating the extension of the ECQ are yet to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the extended ECQ, liquor ban is still in effect in the whole province, social distancing must strictly be observed in public markets, and residents as instructed to follow the market schedules for their barangays.