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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Iloilo City mayor changes stance, appeals help from national government

Iloilo City mayor changes stance, appeals help from national government

Published Jun 17, 2021 04:40 pm

ILOILO CITY – Unlike last year, Mayor Jerry Treñas is now appealing to the national government for help as spiking cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is gravely affecting the socio-economy of Iloilo City.

“On behalf of the City Government and the Ilonggos, we appeal for your kind consideration to provide support,” said Treñas in a letter to Secretaries Francisco Duque III of the Department of Health (DOH) and Carlito Galvez Jr., the Duterte administration’s chief implementer against COVID-19.

The June 16 letter of Treñas is a departure from his previous stance, wherein he constantly attacked officials of government agencies for poor performance.

Last year, Treñas earned national praises for his COVID-19 response mechanisms. Iloilo City even earned the moniker as the “Wakanda of the Philippines”, which now angers residents as the local government is scrambling to control the spiking COVID-19 cases and businesses have been negatively affected.

As of June 16, DOH-6 recorded a total of 2,551 active COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City. The city has been averaging around 100 new COVID-19 cases per day since last week of May.

Both public and private hospitals have reached its capacity as many there have been problems in getting COVID-19 beds as well as lack of equipment and medical supplies.

In his letter, Treñas specifically asked the national government for High Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT) and antiviral drugs Remdesivir and Tocilizumab.

The city mayor also asked for a provision of 50,000 swab test kits after it ran out as there was mass testing of Iloilo City Hall employees.

The mayor is also asking the DOH for augmentation of health personnel to the hospitals and other health facilities as some of the medical frontline workers are either infected with COVID-19 themselves or are physically exhausted.

Treñas also reiterated to the national government the need for more vaccines for the city residents.

So far, only 8,000 people Iloilo City with a population of almost 475,000 have been fully vaccinated.

Iloilo City has received a total of 34,524 doses of Sinovac and 16,880 doses of AstraZeneca.

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