General quarantine replaces blockade in parts of the Philippines as easing begins

MANILA – The Philippines began easing restrictions on the pandemic on Friday, with some areas under a more flexible general quarantine to stop COVID-19 infections that killed about 500 locally and 227,000 globally.

Only Metro Manila and high-risk areas will remain under Enhanced Community Quarantine, or ECQ, until May 15. Under a GCQ, there will be a measured resumption of work, public transportation, and businesses, including shopping malls.

“Necessary dapat must speak in his paglabas in bahay or di kaya is related to work. Wala pa rin po tayong pasyal-pasyal,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told DZMM.

(All trips outside the home should be necessary or work related. Walking around is still prohibited.)

The government could maintain or re-implement the ECQ if respiratory disease cases increase in one area, he said.

Almost 2 months after the closure or ECQ that as of Friday covered the entire island of Luzon, the Philippines recorded 8,488 confirmed COVID-19 infections, including 568 deaths and 1,043 recoveries.

The Health Department hoped to bring the total of daily tests to 8,000 this week as more cities in the capital region began conducting mass driving tests.

In Manila, so-called hard blocks were implemented for 48 hours in at least 2 densely populated districts.

Gross domestic product data for January through March will be released on May 7, and analysts and government officials forecast a contraction in the second and third quarters.

On Tuesday, the Philippines added COVID-19 to its war chest by selling $ 2.35 billion (P119 billion) in global bonds with the lowest interest on its 10 and 25 year terms.

Economic losses have reached P700 billion and could increase to P1.1 trillion, Acting Secretary for Socioeconomic Planning Karl Kendrick Chua said Thursday.

WHAT BUSINESSES ARE PERMITTED?

The following businesses are allowed, regardless of whether the area is under general or enhanced quarantine:

• Agriculture and fishing and the entire value chain, including the manufacture of feed, fertilizers and pesticides.
• Manufacturing and processing plants for basic food products, essential products, drugs and medical supplies, including:
–All food
– Essential hygiene products such as soaps, detergents, shampoo,
conditioners, diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissues, wipes
and toilet papers
–Disinfectants
– Medicines and vitamins.
– Medical products such as PPE, masks, gloves,
–Pet food
• Hospitals and medical clinics.
• Dental clinics and EENT (with strict health standards)
• Retail establishments (supermarkets, supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, public markets, pharmacies and pharmacies).
• Food preparations and water stations)
• Logistics service providers (cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, cargo transportation, and shipping line)
• Delivery services, whether or not an electronic commerce platform, internal or external, transporting only food, water, medicine, pet food, hardware products or other basic needs.
• Banks and capital markets, according to section 5 of IATF Resolution No. 13 of March 17, 2020.
• Supplies and installations of energy, energy, water, IT and telecommunications, waste disposal services and technical services to the aforementioned public services.
• Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning.
• Postal and courier activities.
• Collection, treatment and supply of water.
• Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities (except material recovery – garbage store)
• Sewer (except emptying of septic tanks)
• veterinary activities
• Repair and installation of machinery and equipment.
• Repair of computers and personal belongings.
• Services to buildings and landscaping activities (except landscape care)
• Employment activities (labor services for essential activities)
• Security and investigation activities.
• Programming and dissemination activities.
• Rental and leasing activities (except for entertainment and mass gathering purposes)
• Accommodations used as quarantine facilities for OFW and Filipinos abroad, as well as temporary accommodations for essential industries such as healthcare facilities, banks, BPOs, exporters, and other front-line service sectors.
• Services to buildings and landscaping activities.
• Extraction of crude oil and natural gas.
• Gas stations
• Laundry stores (including self-service)
• Funeral services
• Export companies (with temporary accommodation and transportation services).
• Business process outsourcing companies (with temporary accommodation and transportation services, work from home)
• Mines and quarries

WHAT BUSINESSES ARE NOT ALLOWED?

Businesses and services will not be allowed to resume both in areas under enhanced community quarantine and in areas under general community quarantine:

• Gyms, gyms and sports facilities.

• Massive entertainment-related gatherings such as:

Theaters
Movie theaters
Great concerts
Festivals
Carnivals
Conventions
Shows
Pubs and bars

• Massive business-related meetings, such as:
Fairs
Conferences
Conventions
Workshops
Withdrawals

• Politically related mass meetings, such as:
Electoral manifestations
Voting centers
Parades
Speeches / addresses

• Mass meetings related to sports, such as:
Training
Games
Tournaments
Championships

• Massive religious gatherings.
• Go to libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural activities.
• Gambling and betting activities.
• Activities of travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services.
• Activities of member organizations.

WHO CAN TRAVEL WHERE?

Only travel in ECQ areas will remain restricted. However, those in the GCQ areas cannot simply go to places that are still closed, authorities said. Workers who need to cross from one area to another must present proof of employment or company identification to travel.

The government pandemic working group published the following guidelines for areas under ECQ and GCQ:

• Travel to and from areas under enhanced community quarantine is prohibited, except for:

– Health workers

– government officials and front-line personnel

– those who travel for medical or humanitarian reasons

– people transiting to the airport to travel abroad

– workers in authorized establishments

– people who provide essential public goods, services and services

– essential skeletal workmanship

– OFW returnees and non-OFWs returning to their residences

– other persons transported through the efforts of the national government by carrying out the necessary quarantine protocols and in concurrence with the receiving UGLs

• Workers in the logistics sector, such as cargo, trucks and port operations, must also transit through areas located under ECQ or GCQ, provided that only a maximum of 5 people can operate cargo and ground delivery vehicles, with or without cargo. . .

• Travel by land, air, or sea will be permitted by uniformed personnel and government officials and employees for official business with the appropriate travel authority.

• OFWs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and stranded aliens can go abroad through any of the airports or seaports. Departing passengers may be accompanied by only 1 person traveling to any international port, who will be allowed to return to their point of origin.

• Returned OFWs or returning Filipinos who have been issued a 14-day facility-based quarantine completion certificate or those who are required to quarantine will be granted unimpeded transit through areas in route to your final destination in the Philippines.