BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Gina Montilla-Lizares of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental said she tested positive for Covid-19, making her the fifth local chief executive in the province infected with the virus since last year.
Lizares said she has mild symptoms such as runny nose and cough. “But I am stable and active as of this time,” she added.
“I have been adhering to protocols and been very conscious of my actions, but our work as government servants, especially the challenges of IATF work at 24/7, I also contracted this virus,” Lizares said.
Two other local chief executives, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas and Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson, who also tested positive, have already recovered.
Aside from her, Lizares said that the Sipalay City administrator and her private secretary were also infected, and this led to the temporary lockdown of the Sipalay City Hall. But it resumed operations yesterday, with a 50 percent workforce.
Lizares, whose leadership in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic was commended by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, rallied her constituents to be more careful and cooperative, and to be serious in the fight against the pandemic. Two other Negros Occidental mayors and three provincial board members were also infected last year but are back to work and have fully recovered from the infection.*
