WELCOME and send-off groups in airports, seaports, and bus terminals, and other transportation hubs are no longer allowed starting Tuesday, February 11.
In a press conference, Monday, February 10, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio declared a permanent ban on greeters or send-off groups for safety and security reasons, aside from the fear of possible spread of 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCoV-ARD).
“Naa man nay magsundo, naay muuban nga anak, apo, igsoon, tanan. Mag mass gather na sila diha, duha ka jeep, tulo ka jeep nga mag welcome og isa ka buok nga paryente nila nga niabot so bawal na na siya (Some of them usually brings their whole family in two or three jeepneys to welcome their relatives . We will now prohibit doing it),” she said.
She said only passengers, workers of the transportation hubs, taxis or Grab drivers and individuals who have transactions inside these areas are allowed.
Senior citizens, pregnant women, ladies with infants and small children, and persons with disabilities are the only passengers allowed to have assistants in addition to their drivers.
Passengers can only be dropped off or picked up by the drivers of public or private vehicles.
Converging in parking lots of the transportation hubs is also prohibited.
Duterte-Carpio suggested that people do their farewell in their respective residences.
“Dili na sila muanhi para musundo og muhatod. Tanan hilak nato, tanan goodbyes nato buhaton nato sa balay and idrop nato ang atoang pasahero sa airport (They do not have to meet or send-off our relatives. We should do our goodbyes in our homes and drop our relatives off at the airport),” she said.
He also discouraged the public to travel in and out of the city especially if they are not sick.
“Katong mga naay sakit, ayaw na og gawas and katong mga naay gibati, ayaw na og sulod (We discourage those who are sick to travel to and from the city),” she said.
She also requested the drivers of Taxi, Grab and other ride-sharing vehicles, bus, and van drivers must wear masks and to ensure that they clean and disinfect vehicles before and after delivery of passengers to their destination.