Mayor Treñas on Iloilo City's MECQ status: People became careless

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Friday said carelessness among his constituents could be blamed for the spike of COVID-19 cases in the city, prompting the national government to place it under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

"After a while, palagay ko people became careless at saka nakalimutan na nila na may virus na tayo and I think one of the cases, nag-inuman, ang ibang cases kumakain ng sama-sama. Wala ng mask," Treñas said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Unfortunately pag nasa bahay ka, mahirap nang magbantay, especially mga salo-salo pag gabi," he added.

The national government decided to place Iloilo City under MECQ beginning September 25 to October 9 due to the sudden increase of COVID-19 cases in the city.

"'Yan ang recommendation ng COVID team namin. Ang COVID team namin is composed of doctors from the city health and also doctors who are practicing in Iloilo City,"  Treñas said.

Treñas admitted that some of the hospitals and quarantine facilities are almost full.

"Ang iba talagang malapit na mapuno pero ang ginawa namin may isang sarado na ospital na hiniram namin, ginawa naming setdown facility para lahat ng recovering patient, puwede na doon," he said.

Meanwhile, Treñas also mentioned that over 30 individuals from the city hall had tested positive for the disease, prompting the local government to place the city hall under lockdown until Sunday, September 27.

Thirty-three of those infected are from the city's treasurer office, he said.

"Nag-lockdown kami muna. We will open Monday because tuloy-tuloy ang mass testing ang may order ako na only those with negative RT-PCR result will be allowed to go back to city hall," Treñas said.  —KBK, GMA News