The Province of Davao de Oro is looking at the possibility of implementing a modified community quarantine after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province ends on April 26.
Governor Tyron Uy on Wednesday said in a statement that they are trying to find a balance to ensure the public’s health safety and kickstarting the economy.
Uy said the implementation of the ECQ has been effective in curbing the possible number of cases of COVID-19, as it has limited the movement of the people by staying home.
But the ECQ also posed a big challenge in the economy.
“We have seen its big effect on our livelihood. Therefore, after the ECQ this April 26, we need to find a balance. We need to find the balance between ensuring the public’s health and safety, and sustaining the growth of the economy and livelihood throughout the province,” he said.
“The modified quarantine is what we have seen as a means for this,” Uy added.
Through the modified community quarantine, the governor said they will slowly remove the restrictions but they will still continue the safety guidelines being imposed in the province since April 7. On April 20, the provincial government issued an executive order extending the duration of the quarantine until April 26.
Uy bared that last Tuesday, April 21, a meeting had been conducted to discuss the modified community quarantine, together with Vice Governor Maricar Zamora, the 11 mayors of Davao de Oro, including the Department of Internal and Local Government and the province’s Emergency Operation Center.
The governor noted that the policies might not be as strict under the modified community quarantine, as some business establishments will already be allowed to open and resume their operations.
“Let us not hope that we will be back on what was normal before. We are facing a new reality. We need to adjust, change our movements, our ways, and our system so that we can cope up and survive,” Uy said.
“As of the moment, we are still finishing and writing the final guidelines for a modified community quarantine. Once it is done, we will ensure to immediately publicize it in our official channels,” he added.
