MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano has asked the national government to place Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro under an enhanced community quarantine over fears of local transmission of Covid-19.
Emano appealed to the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force to bring his recommendation to the national level.
Three former military generals in the Duterte cabinet are leading the National Task Force on Covid-19 that is implementing the national government’s action plan against the pandemic. Its overall chairman is Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; Interior Secretary Eduardo Año is its vice-chairman; and presidential adviser for the peace process Carlito Galvez Jr. is its chief implementer.
Emano made the recommendation during the online conference of the region’s task force.
Emano told local radio this morning that an enhanced community quarantine would prevent the virus from spreading further to Misamis Oriental.
He said he included Cagayan de Oro in his recommendation because the city is located in the middle of Misamis Oriental.
Like Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental has been placed under a general community quarantine until May 15 based on President Duterte’s order.
Emano said there was uncertainty about how the virus has been spreading in this part of the country. He said Department of Health (DOH) regional director Adriano Suba-an told him that the Department has yet to establish whether or not there is a case of local transmission.
Emano said he was worried over the number of Covid-19 cases recorded in Cagayan de Oro, and the head of the provincial inter-agency task force, Dr. Jerie Calingasan, feared the possibility of local transmission of the virus.
“Ang akong chief sa task force dugay ra nanawagan nga matin-awan kung duna na ba gyud local transmission sa atong dakbayan o wala pa,” said Emano.
He said he wanted to know if there has been a case of local transmission of Covid-19 so the capitol could properly respond.
“Kami sa task force ubos gatoo na kung naa nay local transmission, angay na nga among hugtan ang among boundaries sa Misamis Oriental,” he said.
Emano, however, said that local governments cannot decide on the matter on their own and that they need to submit to the decision of the national inter-agency task force. He said he hoped his recommendation would be considered.
Emano said he would be sending the regional task force a letter to formalize his recommendation. (Shiela Mae Butlig)
