Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said that the city is prepared even if the national government decides to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces for one week or longer.

Rubiano, in an interview with Jon Ibanez's "Balitaan at Kumustahan" program, said that they are ready to comply with whatever President Duterte would order based on the recommendations of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

“Kami po ay handing sumunod anuman ang desisyon ni Pangulong Duterte base sa rekomendasyon ng IATF. Kasi po ang IATF ay binubuo ng maraming eksperto na mula sa iba’t- ibang sector kaya sila ang nakakaalam kung ano ang mainam para sa lahat (We will follow on the decision of President Duterte based on the recommendation of the IATF. The IATF is compose of experts coming from different sectors and they knew what is right for everyone)," Rubiano said.

Duterte is still contemplating on the matter as of press time but is expected to make his decision anytime soon.

Rubiano, for her part, replied in the affirmative when asked if the city could still manage and be effective in providing basic services to the people in the event of ECQ extension.

“Bago pa po ang pagbibigay ng ayuda ng national government ay napaghandaan na naming ang ganitong sitwasyon at naglaan na kami ng pondo kaya sa tingin ko ay kakayanin pa naman naming mabigay ang kaukulang tulong at serbisyo (Since before the release of financial assistance from the national government, we are already prepared with the situation by allocating funds and I think we could still continue to give help and services)," Rubiano said.

The mayor, meanwhile, admitted that the city’s tax collections were extremely lower this year than the previous years due to the pandemic-induced economic downturn.