QUARANTINE passes may no longer be necessary in areas which will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) by June 1 but individuals who intend to travel from one province to another for non-essential and non-work related activities will still have to secure a travel pass from their localities.
“Ito ‘yung mga tinatawag natin na mga pupunta sa ibang probinsya not for the purpose of work. Ito ay pupuntahan niya ‘yung kanyang farm o kaya ay uuwi siya sa kanyang probinsya so kailangan niya ng travel pass,” Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo Año said on Friday, May 29.
Año said that despite the easing of the quarantine protocols, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will remain strict in the conduct of checkpoints to curb non-essential inter-regional travel which may defeat the quarantine protocols to contain the coronavirus disease.
A travel pass may be secured from the local police through a medical certificate which will be issued by the barangay health center.
However, he clarified that workers of industries which were allowed to re-open amid the GCQ should get past a checkpoint using only their company ID or certificate of employment.
On Thursday, Duterte announced that Metro Manila, Davao City, Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4-A), and the provinces of Albay and Pangasinan would be placed under GCQ from June 1 to June 15.
The rest of the country including Cebu City, which has been tagged as the second epicenter of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic next to Metro Manila, as well as Mandaue City will shift to MGCQ after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) ends on May 31. It is one step closer to the “new normal” or the full lifting of the community quarantine.
But the IATF, in Resolution 41 released Saturday, May 30, placed the entire Central Visayas region, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Mandaue, as well as Zamboanga City in Mindanao under GCQ on June 1.
READ: Central Visayas region, Zamboanga City added to GCQ areas
Among the guidelines in areas under GCQ and MGCQ is the observance of minimum health standards prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH) such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks.
GCQ guidelines
Here are the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in areas under GCQ:
· Those allowed to go out of their residence are workers in industries allowed to re-open and those individuals buying essentials.
· Persons under 21 and those who are 59 and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant women should were not allowed to go out unless they have to buy essential goods or avail essential services, or are allowed to work in permitted industries.
· Transport systems are allowed in accordance to the guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation.
· No face-to face classes are allowed
· Gatherings of a maximum of 10 people are allowed except for non-work essential and entertainment-related
· Work in all government offices may be at full operational capacity or alternative work arrangements may be applied by the Civil Service Commission.
· Individual outdoor exercises are allowed such as walking, jogging, running, or biking provided that minimum health requirement is followed.
· All public and private construction projects are allowed to resume provided that construction safety guidelines prescribed by the government is strictly followed.
· Industries related to power, energy, water, utilities, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, food retail establishments such as supermarkets, food preparation establishments limited to take-out and delivery services, health-related establishments, logistics, information technology and telecommunications and the media are allowed to re-open in full capacity.
· Industries related mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services are allowed to re-open in 50 half to full capacity.
· Industries related to financial services, legal and accounting, auditing services, professional services, scientific services, technical services, non-leisure services, non-leisure wholesale and retail are allowed with 50 percent workforce.
MGCQ guidelines
Here are the guidelines issued by the IATF for MGCQ areas:
· All persons are allowed outside their residence
· Transport systems are allowed in accordance to the guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation.
· No face-to face classes are allowed or may be allowed but with strict compliance to the minimum health standard.
· Gatherings of a maximum of 50 percent of the venue’s total capacity is allowed
· Government employees should report to work except for 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant women.
· Individual and group outdoor exercises including golf, tennis, table tennis swimming are allowed provided that minimum health requirement is followed.
· All public and private construction projects are allowed to resume provided that construction safety guidelines prescribed by the government is strictly followed.
· Industries related to power, energy, water, utilities, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, food retail establishments such as supermarkets, food preparation establishments limited to take-out and delivery services, health-related establishments, logistics, information technology and telecommunications, the media, mining and other manufacturing, electronic commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, housing and office services, financial services, legal and accounting, auditing services, professional services, scientific services, technical services, non-leisure services, non-leisure wholesale and retail are allowed to re-open in full capacity.
· Barber shops, salons, personal care establishments, dine-in services shall be allowed at 50 percent capacity.
Leisure and tourism
Año said leisure activities may also be allowed in areas under GCQ except in movie houses.
“Yes 50 percent ng mga leisure establishments ay papayagan. Yes, pati ‘yung tourism diyan bibigyan natin ng pagkakataon, mga gym, barber shop, salon, ‘yung mga personal services,” he said.
“Yes puwede na rin (pumunta from an area under GCQ to MGCQ for leisure) pero sabi ko nga sa mga borders medyo mahigpit ‘yung checkpoint doon pero puwede na rin sila pumunta doon sa lugar ng MGCQ,” he added.
He said the IATF is still finalizing guidelines for such provisions.
Año said under the GCQ in Metro Manila, at least 300 point-to-point buses will be allowed to operate starting June 1 to serve employees who will be going back to work.
He said the buses will supplement the LRT and MRT which will be allowed to resume operations but on a limited capacity.
"From 300, unti-unti ring magdadagdag ang DOTr hang-gang papayagan na lahat ng buses," he said.
Based on the DOTr guidelines, in the first phase of public transport resumption from June 1 to 21, trains, buses, taxis, ride-hailing cars, shuttle services and bicycles will be allowed to operate in a limited capacity and provided that they observe minimum health standards.
Tricycle operations will be regulated by the local government while provincial buses are still not allowed to enter Metro Manila.
For the second phase from June 22 to June 30, public utility buses, modern jeepneys and UV express vans will be allowed to operate. (SunStar Philippines)