OUTDOOR exercises like jogging, running and biking, along with gatherings of up to five persons, will now be allowed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), even as operations of public transportation and “luxury industries” like barbershops, salons, spas and gyms, and theaters remain closed, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Wednesday.
President Duterte has decided to place Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City under modified ECQ from May 16 to 31. The entire Luzon area has been under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) since March 17 and it will last until May 15.
The rest of the country will transition to general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified GCQ starting May 16.
Roque said that under an MECQ setting, the movement of people will be less restricted and operations of certain industries will already be allowed.
Under both ECQ and MECQ, however, people are encouraged to stay at home at all times, schools are closed, and only a skeletal force, or a work from home scheme, is allowed to operate essential industries.
In areas under GCQ, persons belonging to the vulnerable sector like the elderly and the children should still stay home, while school managements will already be allowed to operate under a skeletal force to process graduation rites and prepare for the next semester.
Operations of public transportation is also suspended in both ECQ and MECQ areas but “limited international flights” and “controlled inbound travel” covering overseas Filipino workers and returning Filipinos will be allowed. Biking and motorcycles — carrying a single person — will likewise be permitted, while inter-island travels are still banned.
Roque said the use of tricycles might be allowed in MECQ areas subject to some guidelines to be issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or the concerned local government unit.
He said public shuttles will also be allowed in all quarantine zones to transport front liners, while personal vehicles will be allowed provided that only two passengers are seated per row.
Public transport like buses, taxis, trains, tricycles, jeepneys will be allowed to operate in GCQ areas subject to protocols like physical distancing, disinfection, wearing of masks are observed, while inter-island travel within the areas in the GCQ will already be permitted.
CATEGORY 1
Industries classified under “category 1” will be allowed to resume operations in areas under ECQ, MECQ and GCQ.
Category 1 include those in: agriculture; forestry and fisheries; manufacturing of essential goods like food and beverages, hygiene, medicine and vitamins, medical products, pet food, feeds and fertilizers; hospitals, clinics, dermatological, dental, optometric and eye, ear, nose and throat; essential retail shops like groceries, markets and drugstores, laundry shops, food preparation and water refilling restaurants for takeout and delivery operations only; logistics service providers, cargo handling, warehousing, trucking and shipping line, and delivery services; mining and quarrying; electronic commerce companies; and those in postal, courier, and delivery service.
Also allowed in all quarantine categories are: utilities, power, energy, water, telecoms, aircon, water collection/supply; waste management, sewerage except septic tank emptying, pest control, garbage collection; repair and installation of machinery and equipment; telecommunication companies, energy companies, gasoline stations, construction, and media establishments; workers accredited by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and to work on facilities for healthcare and for risk reduction; manufacturing companies and suppliers of products necessary for construction; capital markets, banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, pawnshops doing money transfer services and credit cooperatives; and business process outsourcing, subject to provisions of work from home schemes or near site accommodations and shuttle services for their employees.
Allowed to operate with a 50 percent capacity in areas under MECQ are media establishments, those engaged in cement and steel, veterinary clinics, security and investigation activities, funeral and embalming services, excluding funeral parlors; real estate, and hotels and those providing accommodations for guests with existing bookings.
CATEGORY 2
In MECQ areas, industries under Category 2 that are allowed to operate up to 50 percent of their capacity are those involved in the manufacture or production of beverages like alcoholic drinks, electrical machinery, wood products, furniture, non-metallic products, textiles, wearing apparels, tobacco products, paper and paper products, rubber and plastic products, oil and refined petroleum products, other non-metallic mineral products, computers, electronic products, optical products, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, and other transport equipment.
Also allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity in MECQ areas are those engaged in advertising, computer programming, publishing and printing activities, wholesale and retail of vehicles, repair of motor vehicles, film and television productions, other activities like photography, fashion, industrial, graphics and interior design; and hardware stores and stores that cater to baby care supplies, pet and pet foods, toys, books and schools supplies.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said workers should bring their identification cards and certificates of employment when travelling to avoid being stopped at checkpoints.
He said companies are also encouraged to provide shuttle for their employees as public transport remains suspended in ECQ areas or will operate at reduced capacities in GCQ places.
NOT ALLOWED
Roque said still not allowed in all quarantined areas are barbershops and salons, gyms, fitness studios and sports facilities; entertainment like cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars; kid amusement, playrooms and rides; libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers; tourist destinations like water parks, beaches, resorts; travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities; and personal care services like massage parlors, sauna, facial care, and waxing.
Roque urged everyone to be more patient and understanding, adding that the lifting of restrictions should be gradual to avoid a spike in the current coronavirus cases.
He warned that a rise in the number of cases in an area could lead to the province or city’s inclusion in the ECQ.
“Kinakailangan po tayo ay maging flexible, dahil ang ating palatuntunan nga po ay hinay-hinay, dahan-dahan, unti-unti. Kapag dumami po ang kaso babalik at babalik tayo sa ECQ (We need to be flexible, as our guideline is gradual, slowly, little by little. If there is a spike in cases, we will go back to ECQ,),” he said.
GATHERINGS AND EXERCISES IN MECQ
Roque said gatherings will now be allowed in MECQ provided that it is limited to five people. In GCQ settings, gatherings of up to 10 people will already be allowed.
He said masses and other religious gatherings, however, are still not allowed.
Roque said people living in MECQ areas may now engage in outdoor exercises like walking, jogging, running, and biking provided that minimal safety standards like wearing of mask at all times and maintaining a physical distance of at least two meters are observed.
Those in the GCQ areas are allowed to engage in limited contact sports like golf and tennis.
LABOR INSPECTIONS
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said labor inspection activities are already set to resume in areas where community quarantine measures will be relaxed starting May 16.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they will deploy Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs) in the regions. “It will already resume in those areas although we are still working with skeletal force only,” said Bello.
He said they intend to complement their lack of sufficient manpower with advisories on how to observe strict health protocols in workplaces amid the continued threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“We will send our advisories to companies for the meantime,” he said. — With Gerard Naval
