As Iloilo City goes into the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine from May 23-May 31, 2021, here are some of the important guidelines we need to remember:
TRAVEL MORATORIUM
Inbound and outbound travel of persons from Negros Island to Iloilo City and vice-versa shall be temporarily suspended effective May 25, 2021.
CURFEW HOURS
Curfew hours are from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Exceptions:
*medical, government and uniformed personnel
*those obtaining essential goods and services, or working in essential services or industries and offices/ night-shift workers
LIMITED MOVEMENT OF VULNERABLE SECTORS
For persons more than 65 and below 18 years old; pregnant women; persons with comorbidities, immune-deficiencies and other risk factors; and persons with disabilities
Exceptions:
In circumstances of obtaining essential goods and services.
PROHIBITED ESTABLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
*Entertainment venues with live performers
*Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, etc.
*Amusement parks or theme parks
*Outdoor sports courts or venues for contact sports
*Indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas or other indoor leisure centers, and swimming pools
*Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments (except for the draws conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office).
*Indoor tourist attractions, libraries, museums, galleries, exhibits
*Outdoor tourist attractions
*Venues for meetings and conferences
* Beauty salons, beauty parlors, among others
DINE-IN SERVICES
Food establishments are strongly encouraged to open only for take-outs.
Dine-in services limited to twenty percent (20%) seating capacity.
Greater capacity allowed up to a maximum of (50%) seating capacity for al fresco or outdoor dining.
WORK ARRANGEMENTS AND ALLOWABLE CAPACITIES
Establishments and offices allowed to operate with full on-site capacity:
*Public and private hospitals;
*Health, emergency, and frontline services: dialysis centers, chemotherapy centers, HMOs, health insurance providers, disaster risk reduction management officers, and public safety officers.
*Manufacturers of medicines and vitamins, medical supplies, devices, and equipment.
*Industries involved in agriculture, forestry, fishery, and workers such as farmers and fisher folks.
* Delivery and courier services, cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, freight forwarding, shipping, port and terminal operators.
*Essential and priority construction projects, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
*Food and essential goods manufacturing: 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; and
*Business process outsourcing establishments (BPOs), and export-oriented businesses, including mining and quarrying activities; and
*Public transport providers and operators.
Other private establishments and offices are allowed to operate at thirty-percent (30%) maximum on-site capacity while highly encouraging to adopt work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements, where applicable.
OPERATION OF HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS
Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid DOT Accreditation shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients for legitimate purposes under a state of a public health emergency.
The operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments, as well as ancillary establishments within their premises such as restaurants, cafés, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like, shall be subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the IATF.
Swimming pools and other similar swimming amenities of resorts, hotels, accommodation establishments and condominiums shall be temporarily closed.
GUIDELINES ON THE CONDUCT OF GATHERINGS
Gatherings outside of residences shall be prohibited. Gatherings at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household shall likewise be prohibited.
However, gatherings that are essential for the provision of health services, government services, or humanitarian activities authorized by the appropriate government agency or instrumentality shall be allowed.
Religious gatherings shall be allowed up to thirty percent (30%) of the venue capacity. The religious denominations should strictly observe their submitted protocols and the minimum public health standards.
The celebration of weddings, christenings or baptismal rites are strongly discouraged except those who already have scheduled and paid-up bookings prior to this declaration. Provided that, the same can only be attended to by immediate family members (first-degree relatives) or a maximum of thirty percent (30%) seating capacity, whichever is lower, and strict observance of minimum public health standards shall be maintained.
GUIDELINES ON THE CONDUCT OF WAKES, BURIAL AND OTHER
Gatherings for wakes, inurnment, funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 may be allowed, provided that the same shall be limited to immediate family members (first-degree relatives) only if being conducted at the residences.
If the wakes, inurnment, and funerals shall be conducted at the funeral homes, funeral parlors or mortuaries, satisfactory proof of the relationship with the deceased and the attendees shall be inspected by the management. In all cases, full compliance with the prescribed minimum public health standards for the duration of the activity must be strictly observed.
In all cases, the maximum number of days for the conduct of wakes shall be three (3) days from the time the remains of the deceased are first displayed no matter whether the family or significant others of the deceased choose more than one venue for the same.
OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The road, maritime (except those with the approved travel moratorium from and to specified destinations), and aviation sectors of public transportation shall be allowed to operate at such capacity and protocols in accordance with guidelines issued by the DOTr.
The use of active transportation such as biking is highly encouraged.
The movement of cargo/delivery vehicles, as well as vehicles used by public utility companies, shall be unhampered. Shuttle services of permitted establishments shall not be subject to an ID system but shall maintain compliance with minimum public health standards with the drivers wearing face masks all the time and with transparent anti- COVID-19 dividers from the passengers. Passengers shall maintain one (1) seat apart from each other and must sanitize prior to taking in. Companies with shuttle services must maintain a log book to easily track the passengers/employees.
VACCINATION ROLL-OUT
Vaccination roll-out at the identified vaccination sites shall remain unhampered. No walk-ins for pre-registration at the sites will be imposed.
Only the confirmed residents on the priority list and with vaccination tickets shall be accommodated. Provided that strict observance of minimum public health standards must be maintained at the vaccination sites.
PROHIBITION ON HOME QUARANTINE
Confirmed COVID 19 positive individuals shall no longer be allowed to observe isolation or quarantine at home except those who are senior citizens, provided that home arrangements allow isolation from other family members, subject to inspection and approval of BHERTs./PN
