BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental joins Bacolod City officials in praying for the best possible scenario that the province and the highly-urbanized city will have the same classification, which is General Community Quarantine.
“In case Bacolod is escalated to the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine status, it will be difficult for all of us. It’s really going to give us a lot of setback economically, and a disruption in the delivery of basic services,” Diaz said.
“We are hoping that the appeal will be given due course by the Inter-Agency Task Force,” Diaz said, adding that it is really advantageous that the quarantine status of Bacolod City remains under the GCQ.
Under the MECQ status, there will be no public transportation, including domestic flights and inter-island travel, gatherings restricted to a maximum of five, 100 percent stay at home, except for frontliners, limited outdoor exercise, controlled inbound travel for overseas Filipino workers and returning Filipinos, closure of school premises, skeletal work force, and alternative work arrangements.
While the 4-day work scheme remains in effect at the Provincial Capitol offices, Diaz said the adoption of a skeleton workforce would be difficult for the employees, in terms of their benefits and salaries.
He also expects that payment to suppliers, and the approval and implementation of projects will be affected. But if there is an order from the IATF, Diaz said they have no other option but to comply with it.*
