Cebu City Could Transition Into GCQ: Cimatu

Environment Secretary and Cebu Overseer Roy Cimatu said that there is a high chance that the City of Cebu may be placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) by the end of the month.

Cebu City is currently under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

During a meeting with Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and local business owners, Cimatu said that the assessment made was positive that the City could be placed under GCQ soon.

“We are making progress now because of contact tracing. I am expecting na bababa (ang cases sa Cebu City) by next week. So, hopefully by the end of the month, we’ll go down to GCQ,” Cimatu said

They also discussed additional health and safety measures to address the situation and to revive the devastated economy brought by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, President of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Felix Taguiam, also expressed his optimism in the situation.

“Most of the business owners in the City are traders. The Chamber has 391 members, and right now I already received 92 requests for closure,” Taguiam said.

The “Project Balik Buhay” will also be reviewed by the IATF. Project Balik Buhay aims to gradually re-open the community through a calibrated, scientific, and evidence-based transition from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to GCQ.

“We will meet with the business sector to explore how the IATF can integrate this program into our policy direction, so that the needs of the communities, especially the workers whose jobs were greatly affected by the pandemic, can be addressed,” said retired MGen. Mel Feliciano, assistant to Cebu overseer Roy Cimatu. (MLC)