Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and Three Mayors Protested against New Lockdown Policy (Philippines)
The controversial governor of Cebu (Philippines), Gov. Gwen Garcia along with two mayors Michael Rama of Cebu City and Mayor Junard Chan of Lapu-Lapu City expressed opposition to the heightened lockdown currently being implemented in Cebu Island. The lockdown being applied in many cities and provinces of the country started on the first day of August and claimed to be caused by the alleged new coronavirus Delta variant. Local experts, however, are skeptical about this claim while Cebu officials, including the regional directors who are members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), united to appeal for a downgrade of the so-called modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) into general community quarantine (GCM). MECQ, according to these officials, is not a good option as it will further hinder the industries and hurt the economy in general; driving many Filipinos poorer.
In addition to those officials, the Mayor of Naga City Kristine Vanessa Chiong also expressed disagreement on quarantine measures being implemented by IATF right now in many parts of the country. As reported by Sugbo News:
“Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan joined the meeting of mayors to talk about Covid-19 updates and care management in the whole island of Cebu, seeking for the Regional IATF to have the downgrading reviewed.
Chiong and Chan are one with the Provincial Government that imposing lockdowns has never been the right response to Covid-19 incidence.”