Iloilo province relaxes, moves to GCQ

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. issued Executive Order No. 118 on May 15, 2020 placing the province under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from May 16 to 31, 2020 as it continues fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Defensor met with mayors on May 13 where they had reached a consensus to impose the GCQ on the province.

The EO’s text reflected the consensus of the governor and the mayors, citing the lack of conclusive epidemiology of the disease.

“For lack of conclusive epidemiology on COVID-19 on account of its novelty, the [low-risk classification] cannot be an accurate basis for the degree of quarantine procedures to be adopted by the Province, notwithstanding modest incidence, distribution, and transmission. A sound premise, however, is the sustainability of the quarantine measures implemented by the Province,” the EO stated.

The EO also said that while the ECQ had been effective, it had drastic effects on the economy.

“While ECQ achieved its objectives as shown by the incidence, distribution, and transmission of COVID-19, its community quarantine features are not sustainable through time; adjustments have to be made so that the continued implementation of quarantine procedures does not cause further economic downturn. [There] is a need to adjust the degree of quarantine procedures so as to increase economic activity in the Province, restore the amount of money in circulation, and bring back income of the business sector, as well, wages of the workers,” the EO stated.

 

NEW PROVISIONS

The EO new and more relaxed provisions under the GCQ to maintain the dwindling rate of active COVID-19 cases in the province.

Only household providers, or those buying and/or getting basic necessities; and necessity providers, or those who work in or operate allowed establishments and sectors will be allowed to leave their homes and move about.

Persons below 21 years old or above 60 years old, those with immunodeficiency, co-morbidities and other risks, pregnant women, and those residing with these persons will be required to remain inside their homes at all times.

They will only be allowed to leave their homes if they are either a Household Provider or a Necessity Provider.

Public transport will be allowed but with reduced capacity, to continue the observance of the following social distancing measures:

– only one passenger will be allowed in pedicabs;

– only one back rider from the same family and household will be allowed in motorcycles, and driver and back rider should wear helmets, face masks and gloves, and disinfect immediately before and after their trip;

– three passengers will be allowed for tricycles, one in the front, one in the back seat, and one back rider, and there should be a non-porous and transparent divider;

– buses must have only one to two passengers per row, with a divider between them;

– jeepneys and vans will only be allowed with one-half of their seating capacity, and they must also have a divider between passengers; and

–  taxis, motor bancas, and other private vehicles will be allowed with one-half of their seating capacity.

Other non-essential establishments, industries, and livelihood sectors which were previously closed under the ECQ will now be allowed, provided they will abide by the following social distancing measures:

– temperature check using non-thermal scanners;

– a distance of one-and-a-half to two square meters between each person per floor area;

– for restaurants, food chains, and food stalls, there must only be two persons per table or one person for every two square meters of floor area;

– one-way traffic in the movement of staff and customers;

– provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as face mask, face shields, goggles, and gloves to staff and workers;

– provision of accessible wash areas with soap and disinfectants, and regular disinfecting of the workplace; and

– assignment of a full-time Occupational Safety and Health Officer to monitor social distancing measures, as well as the health condition of staff and customers.

Establishments that are allowed to open shall also continue to maintain alternative work arrangements, if possible.

There will be a moratorium on payments of residential and commercial rentals, including those of micro, small, and medium enterprises which were not allowed to operate, and whose due dates fall during the GCQ period.

The rent moratorium shall be for a period of 30 days from the due date or until the lifting of the GCQ, whichever may be longer.

Interests, penalties, and other charges and fees shall also not be incurred during the moratorium.

Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and residents stranded in other areas will be allowed to return, subject to documentary requirements.

OFWs and strandees from High-Risk areas testing using the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction [RT-PCR] kits, and a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

 

 

RETENTION

The EO retained several provisions from previous community quarantine orders.

The province will continue to require quarantine passes under the GCQ. Passes previously issued under the ECQ will remain valid.

Enhanced CQ and GCQ passes should be presented at all times in allowed establishments and when using public transport.

Iloilo City residents entering the province will no longer need to present their passes but will still need to present any valid government-issued ID as proof of residence.

Establishments in the leisure industry, tourism and recreation industry, amusement and gaming, fitness, and hotels will also continue to be prohibited during the GCQ.

Hotels, however, will remain open for the following:

– foreign guests with existing accommodations as of May 1;

– guests with existing long-term bookings;

– distressed OFWs and stranded Filipinos and foreign nationals;

– repatriated OFWs in compliance with approved quarantine measures;

– Non-OFWs who may be required to undergo quarantine; and

– allowed establishments, industries, and livelihood sectors.

Other provisions from the ECQ EOs which have been retained include transport for trade and other necessities, travel restrictions except for persons allowed under the previous EOs, suspension of classes, prohibition on public events, reverse quarantine procedures, mandatory testing, testing of suspected and probable cases, and designation of hospitals for Persons Under Investigation (PUI) with mild symptoms.

DOH data indicated that as of May 15, Iloilo province has had 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with one active case, 14 recoveries, and four deaths.

Iloilo was first placed under GCQ on March 15 via Executive Order (EO) No. 028-C.

The province then moved to the ECQ via EO No. 080 on March 20, originally setting the expiry date to April 14.

The ECQ was extended to April 30 via EO No. 102, and further to May 15 via EO No. 110.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced on May 14 that areas under the ‘Low Risk’ classification of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) should be placed under the GCQ.

The entire Western Visayas region was first announced by Roque to be under ‘Low Risk’ on May 12.

The Department of Health (DOH) classifies the risk levels based on their Case Doubling Time, or the length of time that the number of cases accelerate; and their Critical Care Utilization Rate, or the rate at which the capacity of healthcare facilities in the area are utilized.

Low-Risk areas have a Case Doubling Time of more than 30 days and a Critical Care Utilization Rate of less than 30 percent.

Roque initially announced on May 12 that the region may lift its community quarantine status as part of its new classification.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año then announced on May 13 that ‘Low Risk’ areas should shift only to Modified GCQ.