Cebu City to appeal for GCQ status

“Up to this day, I still believe a GCQ is justified. The data I see do not warrant restrictions set by an ECQ,” said Labella on the Cebu City Public Information Office Facebook page hours after ECQ reversion was announced.

Before the IATF announcement, Labella expressed confidence that his city would get a GCQ extension based on the city’s low fatality rate.

“We have the lowest percentage of Covid related deaths among major cities in the country and one of the three LGUs to have completed a prevalence survey through serological testing,” he said.

As of June 16, the city has 3,613 Covid-19 cases, over 1,700 recoveries, and 33 deaths.

Labella also assured the public that he would fast-track hospital capacity expansion to accommodate more patients and more testing labs for faster discharge of patients. 

The mayor meanwhile denied reports that hospitals within the city have already reached their maximum capacity, leading to the turning down of incoming patients. A British national purportedly died inside an ambulance while waiting to be admitted into a private hospital’s emergency room in Cebu City. 

“We will continue to augment the manpower of our hospitals while making sure that our frontliners and health workers are well taken care of,” Labella said. 

The mayor also said implementation of ECQ laws in the city will be stricter this time. 

“I command every barangay official to strictly enforce the wearing of masks and social distancing. I will not hesitate to sanction barangay officials that fail to enforce protocols,” he said.

As of June 17, barricades between Cebu City and Talisay that were removed in May have been reinstalled. People going to Cebu City can use the Bulacao and SRP (South Road Properties) routes, but those going to Talisay can access only the SRP. Talisay was placed under modified ECQ on June 16.