Bukidnon execs seek extended GCQ until COVID-19 gone

Law enforcers at a checkpoint in Barangay Alae, Manolo Fortich town, Bukidnon, on Wednesday, May 13. —JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. asked the national government on Wednesday (May 13) to retain the general community quarantine (GCQ) order and not lift quarantine measures in the province yet.

Zubiri’s plea came after the inter-agency task force for emerging infectious disease (IATF) issued a resolution classifying Northern Mindanao as a low-risk area because of the region’s low COVID-19 tally.

Local governments in areas tagged as low-risk are on orders to loosen community quarantine measures and implement basic health protocols.

The new IATF order prompted the Bukidnon provincial board to pass a resolution appealing to President Rodrigo Duterte and the task force to “retain and extend” the province’s GCQ status and be allowed to continue enforcing GCQ protocol at checkpoints within its boundaries.

Zubiri said lifting the GCQ would put the people of the province in danger of coronavirus transmission since some areas in its boundaries have a high tally of COVID-19 cases, like the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

To date, Bukidnon has only one confirmed COVID-19 case, that of a village leader from Valencia City who was at a cockfight derby in Davao City, which is considered as an infection cluster.

The Bukidnon board resolution said it was premature to let the province’s guard down because areas that border the province had an increasing number of cases.

“We followed every order that you gave and we are proud to say that we are successful, please listen to the people of Bukidnon,” Zubiri said, addressing the President.

“We (share) borders (with) so many provinces,” he said.

He said the provincial government prepared for COVID-19 by buying medical equipment for the Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center, considered as the province’s COVID-19 referral hospital.

“What we are asking is a little more time until there is no more case,” he said.

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced that areas declared as low-risk would be placed under modified GCQ.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said people’s movement in places under GCQ goes back to normal though people would still be required to wear masks, observe social distancing and other health protocols.

Edited by TSB