ILOILO City – This southern city begins today a 26-day “enhanced community quarantine” as local authorities vigorously try to keep the metro free from the corovirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We are at war with something we can’t see,” declared Mayor Jerry Treñas.
All public and private offices, business and commercial establishments shall be closed, but with some exemptions.
A curfew will also be enforced from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. though there are some exemptions.
No one shall be allowed to go out except in cases of emergency or for the sole purpose of purchasing food, medicines, basic necessities and prime commodities.
Dispensing and transporting liquor are also prohibited during the lockdown period.
“We have to put in minds of people nga indi na sila pwede ka gwa nga basta basta,” said Treñas.
Limiting the movement of people aims to also limit or even stop the transmission of COVID-19 although there are no confirmed cases in the city yet.
Jeepneys won’t be allowed “to ply and ferry passengers.”
Last night, however, Treñas said that just for today (March 20) he would be allowing into the city jeepneys that deliver agricultural products.
He also said the March 20 to April 14 “lockdown” may be extended or shortened depending on the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Health or City Health Office.
“We are doing this because we understand our responsibilities as the regional center for trade in Western Visayas,” said Treñas as he issued yesterday Executive Order No. 055 implementing Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-056 on the enhanced community quarantine that also covers residential areas.
Exemption from closure
The following exempted from the closure:
* public markets, sari-sari stores, supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores
* hospitals, medical clinics, diagnostic centers
* pharmacies
* water-refilling stations, laundry shops
* manufacturing and processing plants or commissaries of basic food products and medicine
* banks, pawnshops, money transfer services, payment and remittance centers
* public utilities (power, energy, water, and telecommunications)
* transportation (buses, taxis, tricycles)
* hardware stores
* gasoline stations (including stores that sell liquefied petroleum gas)
* burial and crematory services, provided that public viewing and wakes shall be prohibited
* food preparation, takeout and delivery services of restaurants, fast food chains and other dining establishments; dine-in clients are prohibited
* business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and knowledge processing outsourcing (KPO) companies may be allowed to operate, provided that workers are provided with on-site accommodations; provided further that social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures are strictly followed
* media outlets, provided that designated field reporters and minimal curfew shall secure necessary permits from the Iloilo City Government
* automobile repair shops
* other establishments that may be allowed by the city government
Limited hours
Exempted establishments, however, are given limited time to operate.
Establishments which are allowed to operate until 7 p.m. – subject to the condition that social distancing is strictly observed, loitering is prohibited and that clients must be on “come-and-go” basis – are the following:
* public markets, sari-sari stores, grocery stores
* water-refilling stations and laundry shops
* banks, pawnshops
* burial and crematory services
* automobile repair shops
* industrial supplies and services
* shipping companies, cargo handling
* agricultural supply stores
* other processing plants
* other establishments that may be allowed by the Iloilo City Government
Establishments which shall be open until 8 p.m. are medical clinics, diagnostic centers, laboratories, money transfer services, remittance centers, hardware stores, gasoline stations (including stores that sell LPG), restaurants, fast food chains, and other dining establishments
The city government’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) shall take charge of inspecting and ensuring that the establishments allowed to operate from March 19 to April 14.
Curfew exemptions
For the curfew exemptions, the concerned persons must present a valid company ID and proof of rendering work/duty (such as those providing medical services). They are the following:
* all Department of Health (DOH) officials and staff
* all health and service personnel stationed at local government unit (LGU) health facilities
* all Philippine Red Cross vehicles
* core staff from World Health Organization and regional offices
* doctors and health workers, and their drivers
* hospital staff and employees, including janitorial services
* medical professionals and other employees
The curfew will be implemented by the police, punong barangay, barangay council, barangay tanods with the Task Force on Moral Values, City Health Office, and PSTMO.
Also exempted are personnel of the following: funeral services industry and immediate family of the deceased; emergency responders such the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and volunteer firefighters; Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR) and Management Council, including Department of Education’s DRR personnel; Department of Social Welfare and Development; Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT);
LGU officials; security services such as the police, military, coastguard, jail personnel, National Bureau of Investigation, among others; company security officers and security guards; force multipliers; banks; public markets; money transfer services; groceries/convenience stores; public markets; pharmacies/drug stores; food chain/restaurants; delivery personnel; employees working at food, grains, flour, wheat (either raw materials or processed foods) processing plants;
employees working in medical manufacturing establishments; telecommunications; water companies; sanitation; private individuals (only one per household) availing the services of the said establishments; essential government skeletal forces of the city and provincial government; capital markets; Department of Labor and Employment skeletal staff for TUPAD program; senators and congressmen; department secretaries, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries; bureau directors;
Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman; Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, and Sandiganbayan; court judges; prosecutors; governors and mayors; media practitioners; BPO and export-oriented businesses; those persons on their way home from work; health workers; authorized government officials;
those travelling for medical and humanitarian reasons; persons transiting for travel to the airport or seaport facilities; persons providing basic services and public utilities; persons delivering food and medicines; essential skeletal workforce of the city and provincial government of Iloilo; and public transport services as determined by the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office.
“To persons who knowingly break protocol and endanger the lives of the residents of Iloilo City, appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges may be filed,” said Treñas.
The city mayor had a coordination meeting yesterday with representatives from the police, military, coastguard, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, representatives of the provinces in Western Visayas as well as Department of Education./PN
