ILOILO City – During the remaining Saturdays and Sundays of this month, only a handful of people should be seen leaving their houses – those exempted from Mayor Jerry Treñas’ new executive order further restricting the movement of people to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the still vaccine-less coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 063 Series of 2020 (The Expanded Enhanced Community Quarantine Guidelines), the new restrictions will be from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on April 18-19 and April 25-26.
Also during this period, “all establishments and business operations of whatever nature (including sari-sari stores, talipapa, and small-scale convenience stores) shall be closed” except for the following:
* hospitals, medical clinics
* pharmacies
* funeral parlors and similar establishments, provided that mass gathering of persons shall not be allowed
* establishments that operate beyond 8 p.m. (such as business/knowledge process outsourcing companies, media outfits, commissaries, food processing business, arrastre services, shipping and cargo, and other similar establishments) provided they shall provide for the accommodation of their personnel
So who are these handful of people allowed to go out of their houses on weekends?
EO No. 063 listed the following exemptions:
* those who need to go to either the hospital or pharmacy, provided they have a quarantine pass and wear a facemask
* all Department of Health personnel (officials and staff)
* healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, hospital staff and personnel, provided they present a valid identification card)
* essential government personnel (those from the Iloilo City COVID-19 Team, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, those manning COVID-19 checkpoints)
* media practitioners, provided that each media outfit shall first secure a permit from the COVID-19 Focal Person
* Iloilo City Emergency Response Team
*other such essential personnel recommended by the COVID-19 Focal Person, and approved by the City Mayor
“On Saturdays and Sundays we will no longer allow anyone to go out their houses except to buy medicines,” Treñas said.
Barangay officials should make sure that those going out have quarantine passes, he added.
“We have to keep Iloilo City sealed from the virus,” said Treñas.
His goal is to open businesses starting May 1./PN
The 2 day total lockdown will not work. People are not obeying the rulings on curfew or quarantine as we have it now. We have been able to travel in and out of our Burangay without any questions. Although when we do go out it is for essentials. People around here are visiting with each other, gathering in the street to mingle, kids playing all over the streets, so what would a 2 day total lockdown do? Absolutely nothing. I know our mayor is trying to do the best that he can for his people, but the people are too stubborn. In my opinion Mayor Jerry Treñas’ is doing all that he can do, it is the people that needs to respond otherwise the quarantine and curfew will extend for months.
My main concern is not what is happening here now as our cases are low, but the problems will begin once you re open your borders to travellers and tourists again, that is where you need to take every precaution, otherwise you are just inviting covid-19 back