By ARGYLL GEDUCOS
President Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommendation to extend the enhanced community quarantine only in high-risk administrative regions, provinces, or areas across the country until May 15.
In the IATF meeting aired yesterday morning, it was announced that the following areas shall be placed under ECQ until May 15 and will be reassessed on May 16:
– Metro Manila
– Bataan
– Bulacan
– Nueva Ecija
– Pampanga
– Batangas
– Cavite
– Laguna
– Rizal
– Quezon
– Occidental Mindoro
– Oriental Mindoro
– Albay
– Catanduanes
– Benguet (May change by April 30)
– Pangasinan (May change by April 30)
– Tarlac (May change by April 30)
– Zambales (May change by April 30)
– Antique (For re-checking)
– Iloilo (For re-checking)
– Cebu (For re-checking)
– Cebu City (For re-checking)
– Aklan (For re-checking)
– Capiz (For re-checking)
– Davao del Norte (For re-checking)
– Davao City (For re-checking)
– Davao de Oro (For re-checking)
The IATF recommendation, as read by presidential spokesman Harry Roque, said low-risk areas will fall under general community quarantine until May 15, and if there is no deterioration, GCQ will be relaxed leading to normalization.
Roque said these areas not mentioned in the list are placed under the GCQ:
– Apayao
– Mountain Province
– Ifugao
– Kalinga
– Ilocos Sur
– Batanes
– Quirino
– Aurora
– Palawan
– Romblon
– Camarines Norte
– Sorsogon
– Masbate
– Guimaras
– Bohol
– Biliran
– Eastern Samar
– Leyte
– Northern Samar
– Southern Leyte
– Zamboanga del Norte
– Zamboanga Sibugay
– Bukidnon
– Camiguin
– Davao Occidental
– Sarangani
– Agusan del Sur
– Dinagat Island
– Surigao del Norte
– Surigao del Sur
– Agusan del Norte
– Basilan
– Sulu
These moderate-risk areas are also under GCQ:
– Negros Occidental
– Negros Oriental
– Siquijor
– Davao del Sur
– Davao Oriental
– Sultan Kudarat
– Lanao del Sur
These areas still have to be determined if they should be placed under GCQ or ECQ:
– Abra
– Ilocos Norte
– La Union
– Cagayan
– Isabela
– Nueva Vizcaya
– Marinduque
– Camarines Sur
– Aklan
– Capiz
– Samar
– Western Samar
– Zamboanga del Sur
– Lanao del Norte
– Misamis Occidental
– Misamis Oriental
– North Cotabato
– South Cotabato
– Maguindanao
The IATF has recommended areas under both the ECQ and GCQ to consider moving the reopening of classes to September as they can transmit COVID-19. Establishments that fall under the so-called “kid industry” like amusement, gaming, and fitness should also stay closed.
Large gatherings like religious gatherings and conferences remain prohibited.
The IATF likewise recommended a minimum health standard to be implemented starting April 27. The Departments of Health, Transportation, Trade and Industry, Labor and Employment , and Public Works and Highways will prepare the guidelines by today.
In his remarks, President Duterte asked the public to bear with the quarantine restrictions for a little while longer.
“I can assure you that we are just waiting for the right time. Tiisin lang muna natin,” he said.
“Ako nakikiusap na sa inyo para lang ito sa bayan. Because we are trying to limit the contamination kasi sinabi ko itong 6,981, ‘pag ito ang nagkalat, naku, mapo-problema po ako,” he added.
Areas previously under ECQ but remain under GCQ will allow workers to go out and work in phases. Young people, senior citizens, and high health risks would stay at home.
The following industries in areas under GCQ can consider the full reopening:
Agriculture, fishery, forestry.
Food manufacturing and its entire supply chain (including ink, packaging, raw materials, etc).
Food retail (supermarket, market, restaurant for takeout and delivery only).
Healthcare (hospitals, clinics, drugstores).
Logistics.
Water.
Energy.
Internet, telecommunications.
Media.
The following industries can resume operation by 50 percent to 100 percent:
Other manufacturing, like electronics and exports.
E-commerce and delivery for essential and non-essential items.
Repair and maintenance services.
Housing and office services.
Meanwhile, the following industries can resume on-site operations by 50 percent while the other half can continue working from home:
Financial services
Business process outsourcing.
Other non-leisure wholesale and retail trade.
Other non-leisure services.
Malls
The non-leisure shops in malls in areas under GCQ may partially open. There will be mandatory temperature checks, wearing of masks, and alcohol use. A limited number of people, particularly those aged 21 to 59, with ID and not looking sickly, would be allowed to go inside.
Supermarkets, drugstores, banks, laundry service, restaurants (for take-out and deliver only), and hardwares inside malls are allowed to reopen provided that employees are provided with masks and gloves.
To avoid the lingering of people inside malls, the aircon temperature will be increased to 26 degrees Celsius and access to free WiFi will be removed.
Priority and essential construction projects would likewise be allowed to resume, subject to minimum health standards, physical distancing, and barracks for workers.
Public transport modes would also be allowed to operate at reduced capacity and local government units would enforce curfew at night for non-workers.
The IATF resolution was leaked and circulated online late Thursday. A Palace source said that the government, enraged with the incident, is already looking for the person responsible for the leak.
“Hindi dapat kumakalat ‘yung ganyan,” the source said. “Nagagalit sila kasi confidential ‘yan. Hindi dapat lumalabas ‘yan,” the source added.
