ILOILO City – As this southern city slides to a gentler quarantine starting Saturday, travel would be made easier.
The metropolis is welcoming inbound travelers sans negative results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and mandatory quarantine.
These travelers, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas’ Executive Order No. 125-2021, refer to retuning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), authorized persons outside residence (APORs) and returning residents.
However, the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-Pass) is still required.
To obtain S-Pass, inbound travelers must submit an electronic copy of their vaccination card and vaccination certificate.
Iloilo City would be under general community quarantine beginning Oct. 16 until the end of the month.
The ditching of the test requirement and quarantine are also applicable to fully vaccinated non-APORs travelling from Negros Island to this city for essential purposes.
This guideline, according to Treñas, harmonizes travel protocols between this city and Negros Island.
Earlier, Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod City’s Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the non-requirement of RT-PCR tests from fully vaccinated travelers.
Treñas said non-APORs from Negros whose travel here is essential but are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 shall be allowed entry upon their compliance with the S-Pass system and presentation of a negative RT-PCR test result (issued not more than 72-hours prior to travel) and valid ID.
On the other hand, public consumption of liquor is still prohibited here, based on the EO.
Trade will be allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. only.
The city will have a longer curfew: 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. from the previous 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Public transportation is allowed at 100 percent capacity but highly encouraged to carry up to 50 percent.
Banks operation is also allowed at full on-site capacity.
Mass gatherings outside of residence are still prohibited except those permitted by the local government unit upon favorable recommendation of the Iloilo City COVID Team but not more than 50 percent of the venue capacity or 60 attendees.
Likewise, religious gatherings such as marriages, baptisms, and funerals are allowed at 50 percent capacity.
Meantime, spas and barbershops can operate at 50 percent capacity and an additional 10 percent if they have a Safety Seal certification.
For restaurants, those with 100 percent vaccinated personnel and with Safety Seal Certificate can operate up to 60 percent for indoor dining and 80 percent for al fresco. Those with Safety Seal only can operate 30 percent (dining) and 60 percent (al fresco).
For restaurants with 100 fully vaccinated personnel but without a Safety Seal are allowed to operate at 30 percent (dining) and 50 percent (al fresco), while those with no Safety Seal and personnel are not fully vaccinated can operate at 20 percent (dining) and 50 percent (al fresco).
The city will also open the Iloilo River Esplanade and plazas to the public.
Moreover, only hotels accredited by the Department of Tourism and accommodation establishments are allowed to operate and accommodate guests and clients for legitimate purposes under a state of a public health emergency.
Swimming amenities are now allowed to operate at a maximum of 50 percent capacity with strict compliance to health protocols.
On the other hand, vulnerable sectors such as persons more than 65 years old and below 25 years old, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities and persons with disabilities are still required to stay in their residences except for obtaining essential goods and services.
Also, individuals below 18 years old and below and 65 years old and above are not allowed to enter malls and shopping centers except when obtaining essential goods and services.
ALLOWED INDUSTRIES, ACTIVITES
Under the new guidelines, the following establishments can operate at full on-site capacity:
*public and private hospitals;
*health, emergency, and frontline services, including those provided by dialysis centers, chemotherapy centers, health maintenance organizations, health insurance providers, disaster risk reduction management officers, and public safety officers, and the like;
* manufacturers of medicines and vitamins, medical supplies, devices, and equipment, including suppliers of input, packaging, and distribution;
*industries involved in agriculture (crops, fruits, vegetables, livestock, and poultry), forestry, fishery, and such other components of the food value chain and their workers, including farmers and fisherfolk;
* logistics service providers (delivery and courier services; cargo handling; warehousing; trucking; freight forwarding; shipping, port and terminal operators);
*essential and priority construction projects, whether public or private, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
* manufacturing related to food and other essential goods such as but not limited to soap and detergents, diapers, personal hygiene products, toilet paper, and wet wipes, and disinfectants;
* companies that manufacture, distribute, and/or supply equipment or products necessary to perform construction or maintenance works, such as cement and steel, or spare parts;
* essential retail trade and service establishments such as public markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies or drug stores, hardware, office supplies, bicycle shops, laundry shops, and water-refilling stations;
*public and private financial service providers involved in the distribution of government grants and amelioration subsidies;
*business process outsourcing establishments (BPOs), and export-oriented businesses, including mining and quarrying activities;
* media establishments and their total permanent staff complement, inclusive of reporters and other field employees;
* dental, rehabilitation, optometry, and other medical clinics for the treatment of illness or injuries;
* veterinary clinics;
* banks, money transfer services, including pawnshops only insofar as performing money transfer functions, microfinance institutions, and credit cooperatives, including their armored vehicle services, if any;
* capital markets, including but not limited to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Stock Exchange, Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation, Philippine Securities Settlement Corporation, and Philippine Depository and Trust Corporation;
* water supply and janitorial/sanitation services and facilities, including waste disposal services, as well as property management and building utility services;
* the energy sector (oil, gas, and power companies), their third-party contractors and service providers, including employees involved in electric transmission and distribution, electric power plant and line maintenance, electricity market and retail suppliers, as well as those involved in the exploration, operations, trading and delivery of coal, oil, crude or petroleum and by-products (gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, jet oil, kerosene, lubricants), including gasoline stations, refineries, and depots or any kind of fuel used to produce electricity;
* telecommunications companies, internet service providers, cable television providers, including those who perform indirect services such as the technical, sales, and other support personnel, as well as the employees of their third-party contractors doing sales, installation, maintenance, and repair works;
* airline and aircraft maintenance, pilots and crew, and employees of aviation schools for purposes of the pilot’s recurrent training for flight proficiency and type rating using simulator facilities; and ship captains and crew, including shipyard operations and repair;
* funeral and embalming services;
* security personnel licensed by the PNP – Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies;
* printing establishments authorized by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and other government agencies to print accountable forms and other security documents;
* establishments engaged in repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment, for households and essential permitted establishments;
* establishments engaged in repair and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized vehicles, including the sale of spare parts;
* leasing of real and personal properties;
*employment activities that involve the recruitment and placement for permitted sectors;
* teachers, professors and other staff for purposes of conducting online/offline, and flexible classes, completion of grades, and processing of student credentials, requirements and documents;
*lawyers who will provide legal representation necessary to protect rights of persons as well as legal services for permitted establishments; and
* all other establishments, to the extent necessary for the buying and selling of consumer goods or services via the internet.
All other establishments are also allowed to operate at a 50 percent on-site capacity while those who personnel and staff have been fully vaccinated may be allowed to operate up to 70 percent on-site capacity.
PROHIBITED ESTABLISHMENTS, ACTIVITIES
The following establishments, persons or activities are not permitted to operate, work or be undertake during the implementation of GCQ.
* entertainment venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas;
* recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues;
* amusement parks or theme parks, fairs/peryas, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides;
* casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the Inter-Agency Task Force or the Office of the President for the purpose of raising revenue for the government; and
* outdoor and indoor sports courts or venues for contact sports, scrimmages, games, or activities.
Meanwhile, as to works in the Iloilo City government, all department heads are directed to adopt work arrangements that entails only on-site workforce wholly composed of fully vaccinated individuals./PN
