MECQ status of Benguet retained despite appeal
Benguet is placed by the National Inter-Agency Task Force under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) classification from June 1, 2021 to June 15, 2021 despite the appeal letter from Benguet Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas addressed to Secretary Francisco Duque III, chairperson of the IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The letter which was sent on May 28, 2021, contains the request of Governor Diclas to revert the community classification of the province back to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with the declining Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR) in the province for the past weeks.

“We are poised to recover from a three-week MECQ status and an additional two weeks of MECQ will [have a great] impact on the local economy,” said Governor Diclas in the letter.

Governor Diclas explained that there has been a decreasing trend in the number of new confirmed cases of CoVID-19 in the province leading to the declining bed occupancy in isolation facilities.

“The number of cases admitted in the hospital decreased compared to the previous two weeks when no beds were available for admission,” said Governor Diclas in the letter. “At present, there are 112 available beds in hospitals for CoVID-19-related cases and only five ventilators are being used while there are still 11 available.

“CoVID-19 testing has also been ramped up in the province with a 121% increase in May 2021.

Further, among the LGUs in the Cordillera, the Province of Benguet has a relatively high vaccine utilization rate of 96% based on allocation. The municipalities in the province have also requested 12,000 doses from the DOH this June 2021 as the demand for the vaccination has been increasing.

Meanwhile, even if the request from the Provincial LGU was not given a favorable response, the public is highly encouraged to strictly comply with the health protocols and all the restrictions provided under the MECQ guidelines. – PIO-PGO