Albay 'unready' to be placed under GCQ —says Legazpi City mayor

Legazpi City, Albay Mayor Noel Rosal said Wednesday that the entire province was not yet ready to be placed under general community quarantine, as pointed out by mayors in a recent discussion.

In a virtual forum, Rosal pointed out that the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the province has continued to increase. He said mayors of the province have been discussing the matter.

"May resolution ang local task force ng COVID-19 and mga Albay mayors na 'di pa kami ready. Hindi sa against kami pero 'di pa ready," Rosal said.

"Mahirap mag-risk baka magaya tayo sa ibang countries na nag-open sandali. Nagpadala po kami sa IATF Bicol and ipapadala 'yan sa national but that was addressed to the President," he added.

Rosal said his constituents were still afraid that they may get infected with coronavirus once Albay is placed under GCQ. He even mentioned that a barangay in Legazpi City was placed on lockdown because a local official tested positive for COVID-19.

"'Yan ang stand ng mga tao, takot pa ang mga tao... Ang GCQ lalabas na ang mga tao, mahirap i-control lalo na 'yung transport," Rosal said.

On Tuesday, the national government released a revised list of areas that will remain under enhanced community quarantine from May 1 to 15. The list included the National Capital Region, Central Luzon except Aurora, CALABARZON, Pangasinan, Benguet, Baguio City, Iloilo and Cebu provinces, and the cities of Cebu and Davao.

It excluded Albay as well as Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Catanduanes, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Davao del Norte, and Davao de Oro.

So far, there were 38 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Bicol region. Of that number, 30 were from Albay. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News