BAGUIO City Mayor Banjamin Magalong is heeding the call to keep the city safe as the enhanced community quarantine for the entire Luzon has already taken effect for a month.
The order for the city includes suspension of the city’s curfew superseded to give way to a Luzon wide 24-hour curfew with the Baguio City Police Office ordered to intensify patrols to ensure that people are inside their homes except for those performing essential tasks.
“No public transport will be allowed to operate and that is absolute while government offices are to be checked to make sure that only a skeletal force is present. People must be constantly reminded to strictly observe social distancing,” Magalong added.
He said the city is one step away from a lockdown depending on how the health situation progresses saying if and when a community transmission is confirmed, the declaration of a lockdown is at hand.
“It’s our first experience to have this, we are not perfect, we are open to suggestions on how to do this, we will give out guidelines on how to go about this,” Magalong added.
The mayor reminds residents to wear face masks as added protection against contracting the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“In the absence of pharmacy-bought face masks which are now scarce if not totally unavailable, people are urged to improvise with the use of available materials that can serve as protective face cover, when you meet people, wear your mask,” added the mayor.
The chief executive said funds from the local government is being tapped to be used for the city needs in coordination with the City Council.
Processing of business permits is temporarily suspended as precaution to Covid-19 threat. Business owners with last name starting from Q to Z whose schedule of business permit processing is within the Month of March will not be surcharged.
Payment of taxes and cedula at the City Treasury Office is likewise suspended until April 14, 2020.
For mobility in times of need and buying of essentials, no more pass is needed for vehicles that will deliver/transport essentials (i.e. people going to work, food, groceries, medical supplies, agricultural products including animal food and implements, LPG and petroleum products, utilities) within the city limits. Those coming from outside places must submit health declaration forms to the checkpoints and inform any of the following Covid hotlines.
Parents can fetch their children from Baguio as well as those who need to go home to their provinces and work-related travels outside Baguio.
Private vehicles that will bring passengers to the airports will be allowed to go back to Baguio. All passengers bound for Region 1 areas may proceed to Governor Pack road for transport arrangements.
Private companies and establishments are encouraged to negotiate with transport providers/shuttle/ taxi operators/drivers to ferry their workers from residences or pick-up points to their workplace.
Government offices and agencies are encouraged to shuttle their workers from pick-up points to their workplace.
Taxi hotline: 09209026829 while Covid hotlines: (074) 442-1900/ (074) 442-1905/ (074) 661-1455. Globe: 09276280798 and Smart: 09996784335
Private companies and establishments are encouraged to negotiate with transport providers/shuttle/ taxi operators/drivers to ferry their workers from residences or pick-up points to their workplace.