ILOILO City – Now under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), this city is expected to be bustling with people and economic activities once more. All establishments and industries are now allowed to operate.
However, because the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains, workers will all be required to continue observing health safety practices such as physical distancing, frequent hand-washing and wearing of facemask.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, in Executive Order (EO) No. 086 setting MGCQ guidelines, also lifted the liquor ban. However, public consumption of liquor remains prohibited.
Also, establishments are prohibited from dispensing liquor after 5 p.m. of each day.
Treñas said the liquor ban may be reimposed should there be violations of these conditions or if there are alcohol-induced violations of laws, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate charges in court against violators.
He mentioned drunk driving as example of violation.
“Kon may makit-an kita nga naka-inum na sang todo, indi na sila maka-drive. We will be very strict gid when it comes to that,” said Treñas.
Also, Treñas retained the curfew – from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
EO No. 086 further set a cap on establishments’ operational capacity – at 50 percent maximum. These establishments include businesses not allowed to operate under GCQ but could now operate. Among these are spas, fitness studios, sports facilities, libraries, museums, travel agencies, resorts, parks and other leisure/tourism establishments, cinemas, computers and online gaming shops, clubs, casinos, and cockpits, among others, hotels and other accommodation.
Dine-in service and food retail establishments are allowed to operate, too, but for a maximum of 12 hours in a day only and with only 50 percent of their customer capacity.
Also, all workplaces are encouraged to practice alternative work arrangements for employees who are more than 60 years old, those with comorbidities, immunodeficiencies and other health risks, and pregnant women.
EO No. 086 still regulates certain activities. Individual and group exercises including non-contact sports such as golf, tennis, table tennis, swimming and the like are allowed, provided minimum public health standards are observed as appropriate.
Public gatherings such as but not limited to movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities, community assemblies, religious gatherings and non-essential work gatherings are allowed provided the number of participants shall be limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the venue’s seating capacity, and with strict compliance to minimum health and safety standards.
As to school classes, home-based or school face-to-face classes may be conducted in higher education institutions provided there is strict compliance to minimum health standards, in consultation with the Iloilo City Government, and with compliance to the guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education.
However, activities that involve mass gathering of students remain prohibited.
For K-12 basic education, the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan of the Department of Education shall be adopted.
As to transportation, Treñas said operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys, buses and taxis should comply with the rules and regulations issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2020-017, s. 2020), with emphasis on the following:
* Drivers, conductors and commuters are required to wear facemask. No face mask, no ride.
* Fares shall be collected before a passenger boards the jeepney or bus.
* Buses must have thermal scanners to check the temperature of passengers and drivers.
* Drivers must disinfect their vehicles before and after trips.
* A non-permeable material or acetate must be installed inside vehicles to separate the driver from passengers.
* Buses, modern jeepneys and shuttle services must only board around 50 percent of their capacity to ensure physical distancing.
Also, under EO No. 086, back-riding on motorcycles is prohibited./PN
