Quito -The Ecuadorian capital of Quito is this Tuesday immersed in a serious state of emergency, as declared by Mayor Jorge Yunda.

The measure seeks to maintain basic services and allows the city council to be active 24 hours a day, for which the mayor called the Metropolitan Council to declare itself in permanent session.

According to the ruling, the decision was taken given the widespread demonstrations seen since October 3 across different points of the capital, as well as the closing of roads, which have altered the public order and normal daily activities.

The text clarifies that this situation caused damages to people, property and the environment, as well as affecting mobility in the city, due to the suspension of local and interprovincial transport routes.

Since October 3, Quito, along with other cities in Ecuador, has been the center of protests against economic measures announced by President Lenin Moreno on October 1, which caused discontent among the population.

The elimination of the subsidy for extra gasoline and diesel, which came into force that same day, is one of the most criticized reforms, as it brought with it an increase in public transport fares, as well as an increase in the prices of basic goods.

Other measures presented by the executive and which will be subject to the approval of the National Assembly, include a 20 percent reduction in payments for renewed temporary contracts, and the reduction of the paid vacation period for public employees from 30 to 15 days.

As a result, numerous marches were held in protest of what several sectors of Ecuadorian society consider a neoliberal package and a direct blow to the pockets of the working masses of this Andean nation.

Mobilizations are also planned today, to which are added indigenous peoples, and the plans are to maintain the mobilizations indefinitely.

These actions are the preamble to a national strike, called for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, announced the temporary transfer of the seat of government to the port city of Guayaquil, where he has been since yesterday afternoon.

The surroundings of the Carondelet presidential Palace remain guarded by the armed forces and throughout the country, schools have been closed, a measure that was applied last Thursday and Friday.

Yesterday, schools were only closed in the Sierra region, where the most violent acts have been reported, mainly due to the strong police repression unleashed against demonstrators.

President Moreno insists that he will not reverse the measures presented, while protesters intend to remain in the streets until the reforms are revoked.