By Masiding Noor Yahya
MARAWI CITY – The province of Lanao del Sur including the Islamic city of Marawi has been placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) effective Monday, September 7, due to an upsurge of COVID-19 infections in the past weeks, an official spokesman said.
Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the Lanao del Sur Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) said National IATF Chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., had granted the request of Lanao del Sur to go under MECQ from September 7 to September 30.
As of press time, official set of guidelines is yet to be issued by the provincial government.
“The executive order is still being processed but Galvez already directed Gov. Adiong to draw up the quarantine protocols and start implementing them on Monday,” Adiong said on Friday.
This is not the first time the provincial government of Lanao del Sur together with the city government of Marawi has asked the National IATF to place the locality under a stricter community quarantine.
The first request by the local government units of Lanao del Sur and Marawi was denied.
It was during the consultation held at the headquarters of the Army’s Second Mechanized Brigade in barangay Maria Cristina in Iligan City on Friday that Galvez approved the second request.
Spokesperson Adiong said under the much stricter MECQ, all public transportation are suspended and public gatherings will be strictly prohibited.
He said there would also be compulsory wearing of face shields and masks for authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and for residents who will leave their homes for essential travel such as purchase of food or medicines.
Aside from Lanao del Sur, Iligan City was also placed under MECQ.
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Tacloban City, and Bacolod, meanwhile, were placed under general community quarantine.
The rest of the country was placed under the most lenient modified enhanced community quarantine. (Muslimedia.PH)
The Ranao Star 