Navotas mayor welcomes ECQ extension

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco said the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine to May 15 is the country’s second chance to flatten the curve of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and start a “new normal.”

“It’s been more than a month since Metro Manila and other provinces have been placed under ECQ. According to the health department, we have yet to reach the point where we can say we have flattened the curve. The ECQ extension is our second chance to achieve that,” he said.

“The decision of the government beyond May 15 will depend on our compliance with the ECQ. If we follow, the curve will flatten and we can re-start our new-normal activities. If we do not follow, we will be pushing the national government to make a very painful decision,” he noted.

Tiangco appealed to Navoteños to be one with the government in the fight against COVID-19. 

“Take this seriously before we run out of options. Follow the ECQ guidelines and stay home. This is the simplest and most effective way to help prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of contagion,” he said.

On March 7, Tiangco was the first to cancel classes and propose mass promotion for all students. At that time no one took him seriously and DepEd even vehemently opposed the proposal.

Navotas was also the last LGU in Metro Manila to record a confirmed case of COVID-19. The city had its first case only on March 27.

“If COVID-19 cases continue to rise and government is forced to further extend the ECQ, it will be very painful but necessary,” he warned. “It might take us longer to get to the so-called “new normal and more Filipinos will suffer, especially the poor.”

As of April 25, Navotas recorded 29 confirmed cases with seven recoveries, 9 admitted at hospitals, five under home quarantine, and eight dead.