Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Thursday, Dec. 17, admitted that they neglected the physical distancing rule during the distribution of financial assistance at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand but clarified that it was not intentional.
City officials, including Treñas, earned the ire of netizens after they were seen disregarding the one-meter physical distancing measure in a photo posted on Facebook.
“Kon kis-a sa pagpalitrato ta daw nalipat na kita, amo man na ang aton permi ginaremind sa tanan naton nga mga upod,” he said in an interview over radio station RMN-Iloilo.
Treñas assured that physical distancing and other health protocols against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be properly observed at all times.
“Nalipatan ta and pasiguruhon ta nga indi na ina maliwat,” he said.
Trenas’ children, Raisa and Miguel, as well as Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head and Iloilo City COVID-19 Team spokesperson Jeck Conlu also joined the group photo.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed financial assistance to residents of Iloilo City on Tuesday, December 15.
This, according to Trenas, was not a mass gathering.
“Indi ni ya mass gathering kay gapanagtag kita financial assistance. Dasigay lang ni ya, hatag dayon,” the mayor explained.
An estimated 600 beneficiaries gathered at the grandstand during the distribution of cash aids.
“Ang ubrahon, i-divide na subong. Basi sulusubra na lang gid 300 ang pasugtan ta,” said Trenas.IMT
