UNDER MECQ: Mayor Edwin EdSa” Santiago, together with Dr. Renely Tungol, Incident Management Team, revisits and redirects guidelines and plans of the city for the adoption and implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine in San Fernando.
“Hindi lang ito puro batas at guidelines, kailangan rin nating makinig.”
Thus, said Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago during the Incident Management Meeting (IMT) on Friday, May 15, 2020 as the local government unit waited for the decision of the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the community quarantine status of the province of Pampanga, where San Fernando is part of.
This, after Governor Dennis Pineda on May 13 appealed to IATF to put the province under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) instead of the abrupt shift to general community quarantine (GCQ).
Today, May 16 2020, National Task Force Vice Chair and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año released IATF Resolution No. 37 placing the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, and Nueva Ecija, and Angeles City under MECQ.
Santiago said the period of MECQ will help San Fernando to better prepare for the gradual shift to GCQ.
“Nakikinig at nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa provincial government dahil hindi natin maso-solve ng mag-isa ito. We have to coordinate and collaborate para sa mas ikakabuti ng mga cabalen. Gusto lang natin maayos. Di naman ito politika o popularity contest. This is saving lives, the city and the province,” Santiago said.
Santiago also assures the Fernandinos that the city continues its COVID-19 initiatives and programs that are geared towards economic recovery.
“Hindi tayo burara sa pera. Napupunta sila sa Covid actions natin—health, operations, and the social subsidy/assistance. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa ayuda. Parte lang ang ayuda at relief sa pansamantala. Gusto natin i-prioritize yung massive testing para makapag back to work, back to business na tayo sa syudad,” Santiago explained.
Under the MECQ status, minimum health standards, strict home quarantine except for those accessing essential goods and services, will still be observed. Operation of establishments and offices except those for leisure and entertainment will be allowed while public transportation are still suspended.
