Cebu City mayor asks DILG not to revoke perks for vaccinated persons

Cebu City acting Mayor Michael Rama on Wednesday appealed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) not to revoke the "no vaccination, no dine-in" policy of the city as it continues to report low COVID-19 cases in the past weeks.

"Sana hindi na. Because nakikita ko rin 'yung bagong classification (I hope not. Because I am also seeing the new classification), and I am very proud that the IATF is coming out being sensitive," Rama said at the Laging Handa briefing when asked to comment on the matter.

Rama pointed out that the city's daily COVID-19 count was down to two digits, from the previous 200 to 400 cases per day.

He said the city's positivity rate also decreased to 15% from the previous 26%.

He also cited OCTA Research findings stating that Cebu City "has managed the pandemic," and that the city's cases were on a downward trend with a 0.7 reproduction number.

Rama said the executive order issued by the local council came about following consultations with the business sector to balance the needs of the economy and public health.

"Kaya 'yung sinasabing merong nagrereklamo, concerned meron, but if you're talking about from the business sector itself, galing sa kanila 'yon," he said.

In an interview, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año pointed out that Cebu City's policy is not approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Año pointed out that it is too early for the city to implement such a policy amid the number of its vaccinated population.—LDF, GMA News