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This Week in Boracay and Iloilo (April 12 to 18, 2020)
Various rules are being enforced to contain the spread of COVID-19.
By: Shanice Reyes | April 12, 2020
In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the entire province of Iloilo, the government implemented a travel restriction in affected areas and the suspension of the operation of pedicabs, motorcycles, and tricycles. In addition, the enhanced community quarantine has been extended until the end of the month and face masks are now required to be worn in public in Iloilo City. Meanwhile, a clinic in Boracay announced a new protocol on consultations. On the bright side, three companies in Iloilo have joined forces to give out free pandesal to the residents. Also, PECO and Metro Iloilo Water gave an extension for electric and water bills in compliance with the enhanced community quarantine order. For news across the globe, Indian Railways suspended its transportation services and converted old train carriages for COVID-19 patients. Read on for the complete details on these lockdown news.
Quarantine Updates
Enhanced community quarantine in Iloilo will extend until 30th of April
Mayor Jerry Treñas announced to the public that he will be extending the enhanced community quarantine in Iloilo City until April 30 at 11:59 PM. He released his statement after he consulted with the Department of Health, medical doctors, the City Health Office, some businessmen, and with Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. The mayor also reminded the citizens of the safety precautions and to cooperate during the crisis [1].
Travel restriction in affected areas in Iloilo
Due to reports of local COVID-19 transmission in some affected areas in the province, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered a restriction of non-essential travel to and from these areas [2]. According to the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas, there has been local transmission in two barangays in Guimbal and in a village in Lambunao. Under the governor’s EO, government officials and employees, medical workers, and persons doing humanitarian work are allowed to travel from and to these areas. All residents of Guimbal were declared as persons under monitoring (PUMs) and have to undergo 14-day home quarantine.
Travel News: Tricycles, pedicabs, and motorcycles are banned to operate as PUVs
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. suspended the operation of tricycles, pedicabs, and motorcycles as public utility vehicles in rural areas of the province. The memorandum was signed on March 30. The governor also ordered local government units to provide transportation for frontliners and those working in establishments that offer basic necessities. To add, Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas said that having a back rider contradicts the social distancing rule stated by the World Health Organization in its health advisories [3].
Shopping News: Free “Ilonggo pandesal” to Iloilo residents
From April 6 to 20, Iloilo City residents will be treated to free pandesal (yeast-raised bread roll) so no one would go hungry during the enhanced community quarantine. Three companies are joining forces to produce around 43,000 pieces of pandesal daily: The Uygongco Flour Mill to provide flour, Carlos Uy Corporation to supply the other ingredients, and Angelina Bakeshop to bake the bread. The city government would distribute the bread [4].
Bills and Payment News: Energy and water providers extend the payment of bills
Panay Electric Company Inc. (PECO) and Metro Iloilo Water both have extended all bill payments. PECO announced on its Facebook page that it will implement a 30-day extension on all pending power bills for the period of March 15 to April 14 [5]. Meanwhile, Metro Water Iloilo disclosed that there will be no meter reading and delivery of water bills to consumers’ households. Instead, they will compute the water bill based on the customer’s bill for the past three months [6].
Health News
Boracay clinic announces a new protocol
The Scandi Medical Clinic Boracay provided the residents with a safer environment for its patients and staff by switching their services to online consultations only [7]. Online consultations for COVID-19 related concerns are free of charge. This strategy will be observed to follow strict quarantine and social distancing orders. Consulting patients who have a cough, colds, fever, headache, body pain, and difficulty of breathing are not encouraged to come to the clinic but to call the following numbers first: 0999 892 7526 and 288 9341 [8].
Wearing of face masks in public places required in Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo will now require all citizens to wear face masks in all public places during the enhanced community quarantine [9]. The ordinance was approved to contain the spread of COVID-19 in public markets, supermarkets, department stores, plazas, churches, malls, and pharmacies. Violators will be apprehended and fined PhP1,000 or imprisonment for three days on the first and second offense. For the third offense, a fine of PhP2,000 or imprisonment for 10 days will be applied. This ordinance is under Executive Order No. 60 which was signed by Mayor Jerry Treñas and will be effective until the ECQ is lifted.
Global News: India suspends rail network
For the first time in 167 years, Indian Railways, Asia’s oldest rail network suspended its railway operations when Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown [10]. The railway network has now converted as many as 20,000 old train carriages as isolation wards for patients. The purpose of these trains is to ease some of the pressure from hospitals in case the number of coronavirus patients begins to rise. Each carriage is sanitized and will be able to accommodate up to 16 patients. These trains are not designed to function as full-service hospitals, but only for COVID-19 positive patients who are not critically ill. As of April 1, 2020, India’s record showed 4,288 cases of COVID-19, including 117 fatalities.
Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Boracay and Iloilo.
Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/2RhU6LZ
[2] https://bit.ly/3c1fOvI
[3] https://bit.ly/2RgTeaA
[4] https://bit.ly/3dXaCuG
[5] https://bit.ly/2UScZrc
[6] https://bit.ly/2yDhOMk
[7] https://bit.ly/2Vdwt8u
[8] https://bit.ly/2Xfd6Pf
[9] https://bit.ly/3aUEtSD
[10] https://cnn.it/3aWJn1u
About Shanice Reyes
Shanice Reyes writes to buy herself good coffee and bike parts. When she's not writing, you can find her playing Ultimate Frisbee, traveling to new places, or hanging out with her dogs and tarantulas. Though she has an irrational fear of heights, she'd love to try sky-diving one day.
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