ILOILO – Hoping to make an economic rebound while containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s Executive Order (EO) No. 110 enforcing an extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) allows the reopening of establishments and industries concerning agriculture, among others.
“If the economy is not functioning, the ECQ won’t be sustainable and it will not be effective,” explained Defensor.
He described as a “bigger challenge” the recovery of the local economy “while implementing effective ECQ measures.”
One such measure is social distancing. He said it should be observed in establishments and businesses allowed to operate to avoid the further transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The ECQ has been extended up to May 15, unless stretched further.
“This is a drastic short-term measure that is necessarily limited by its impact on the economy…(A)djustments…have to be made so that it does not cause other humanitarian crises owing to economic downturn,” stressed Defensor.
Restrictions on the travel of persons as well public transportation, however, are being maintained. Only those with quarantine passes are allowed to go out of their homes.
WHO’S RESUMING OPERATION?
So what are the establishments, industries and livelihood allowed to resume? Defensor’s EO No. 110 listed several – more than those that were allowed during the initial ECQ last month.
He, however, stressed: “In all these, there must be a rationalization of personnel and work hours and/or implementation of work-from-home arrangements.”
The following are allowed to resume their operation:
* municipal public markets, provided that, while the same shall be open on a daily basis, scheduled market days shall be suspended; provided further that only such number of barangays, as may be determined by the municipal mayor, shall have access to the public market on a given day;
* supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, sari-sari stores and bakeshops
* restaurants, fast food chains and food stalls, provided that sale of food shall only be on “take-out” basis
* water refilling stations
* establishments providing essential health / medical / hygiene products, such as medicines and vitamins; soap, detergents, shampoo and disinfectants; diapers, feminine hygiene products and tissue/toilet papers; personal protective equipment (PPE), facemasks, face shields, gloves and goggles;
* agricultural supply stores
* hardware stores
* auto supplies
* gas stations; liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stores/outlets
* those into manufacturing / processing of basic food products
* those into manufacturing / processing of essential health medical and hygiene products
* those providing services for health needs such as hospitals, medical clinics, diagnostic centers and laboratories
* veterinary clinics
* logistics service providers / common carriers engaged in cargo handling, warehousing, freight hauling / forwarding
* delivery services, whether e-commerce platform, in-house or out sourced, for non-essential products
* financial service providers such as banks, stock markets, credit facilities, pawnshops, money transfer services; payment and remittance centers
* public utilities (power, energy, water, telecommunications, information technology and waste management)
* other essential services such as postal service; repair and installation of machinery and equipment essential to the allowed establishments, industries and livelihood sectors; repair of information technology equipment and other essential household appliances; commercial buildings and landscape maintenance services; essential manpower services; security services; leasing and rental of machineries and equipment; accommodation used as quarantine facilities for overseas Filipino workers / repatriates; , as well as temporary accommodation for the allowed essential establishments, industries and livelihood sectors; laundry services; funeral services
* business and knowledge process outsourcing
* media
* agriculture and fisheries
* companies / firms engaged in the manufacturing/processing of export products
* mining and quarrying
Defensor also stressed that local government units “must maintain full operational personnel in frontline or critical services such as health, waste management, disaster risk reduction and management, provided that the applicable advisories and guidelines of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry shall be followed.”
Meanwhile, the additional COVID-19 measures he ordered included the following:
* mandatory testing
* designation of district hospitals to accommodate persons under investigation with mild symptoms
* creation of COVID testing teams in district hospitals to augment the testing capacity of rural health units
* establishment of common municipal quarantine facilities to handle asymptomatic COVID-19-positive patients as well as persons under monitoring/PN
