ILOILO Province is now placed under the enhanced community quarantine effective immediately on March 20 until April 14, 2020 for tighter protection against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. in his Executive Order No. 80 signed on Friday afternoon, March 20, said a strict home quarantine shall be observed in all households where the movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and health needs.
Defensor said all private establishments in Iloilo Province are closed. However, establishments providing food, water and other related necessities are exempted. These include municipal public market, supermarkets, sari-sari stores, grocery and convenience stores, water refilling stations and bakeshops.
Restaurants, fastfood chains and food stalls are also exempted provided they shall be on a “take-out” basis.
Other establishments exempted are hospitals, medical clinics, medical facilities, diagnostic centers, laboratories, dental clinics, pharmacies and drug stores; factories, plants engaged in the processing and storage of food products; banks, pawnshops, money transfer service, payment and remittance centers; public utility providing transportation, power, energy, water, telecommunication and cargo handling; establishments providing basic necessities and services like agricultural supply stores, gasoline stations, Liquefied petroleum gas, funeral and crematorium services; media establishments, business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO).
Defensor said the transit to and from the exempted establishments shall be allowed.
However, selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving dispensing and transporting of alcoholic beverages like whiskey, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer and such other intoxicating drinks are prohibited.
“In all such open establishments, and likewise in the LGUS, there shall be a reduction of personnel, rationalization of work hours and/or implementation of work-from-home arrangements, Provided that, the same shall not affect the levels of product/work/services output,” Defensor said.
All such open establishments are enjoined to strictly follow, Department Memorandum No. 2020-0056 issued by the Department of Health (DOH) on personal protection and hygiene, social distancing measures, environmental measures and food safety measures.
Reverse Quarantine or isolation procedures shall be implemented to those persons considered more vulnerable to infection and the severity of Covid-19.
Persons such as the elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from diseases or conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and immunosuppression.
They are more vulnerable to infection of Covid-19 and shall be given priority in the reduction of personnel, rationalization of work hours and implementation of work-from-home arrangements. (SunStar Philippines)