This Week in Metro Manila (September 5 to 11, 2020)

Metro Manila is under general community quarantine (GCQ) during the entire month of September as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte last August 31. Along with Metro Manila, other areas under GCQ are the provinces of Batangas and Bulacan and the cities of Bacolod and Tacloban. Meanwhile, Iligan City is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and the rest of the country will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) [1].

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that buses with doors located on the left side have started plying the EDSA busway route. According to Transport Assistant Secretary Steve Pastor, the deployment of the said buses is key to the safety of commuters since the busway’s location exposes passengers to passing vehicles and regular buses open at the right side.

Pastor also added that the bus units can accommodate passengers who will be using the new bus stops along the innermost lane in EDSA. For safety, concrete barriers and steel operators are also placed on median lanes [2].

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that the number coding scheme will remain lifted in Metro Manila as long as it is under community quarantine. According to MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, the number coding will remain lifted because of the limited modes of transportation in the metropolis. However, motorists are urged to check their local government unit’s measures as they might have a scheme in place. The number coding scheme was suspended in Metro Manila last March after the entire area was first placed under enhanced community quarantine [3].

Several facilities in Manila are allowed to operate under Executive Order No. 37 signed by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso last September 1. The new EO permits the operation of internet cafes, gyms and fitness studios, and sports facilities, provided that each venue’s capacity is only at 30 percent. The said establishments are allowed to operate from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM in compliance with the city’s curfew hours.

Besides the allowed hours, several conditions are also required for the facilities. For sports facilities, activities must only be limited to non-contact sports and other forms of exercise like walking, jogging, running, swimming, biking, badminton, tennis, range shooting, equestrian, and skateboarding in an outdoor setting. Gyms and fitness centers are only allowed to permit individual workouts and internet cafes are only allowed to operate provided that their computers and equipment are used for work or educational purposes [4].

All customers and management of the facilities mentioned are required to wear face shields and face masks, with the exception of gym customers who are training or completing a set of exercises.

Pasig City residents are required to wear face shields in public places and commercial establishments. According to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, the city council passed an ordinance that requires the use of face shields not just in public transport but also in workplaces and commercial establishments [5]. Sotto also clarified that face shields are not required when driving, riding a bike, and exercising. Fines for violators are not indicated.

In order to lessen the exposure of healthcare workers to COVID-19, the Quezon City government launched a telemedicine system that can help patients seek consultation without leaving their home [6]. For this service, 15 units of laptops and desktops were donated by the Department of Health (DOH), according to city officials. The units are distributed at selected health centers and isolation facilities in QC.

A new contact tracing app was launched last September 3. StaySafePH, which is backed by the Inter-Agency Task Force, aims to help the public avoid areas with COVID-19 cases. Aside from providing info, users of the app are encouraged to report their health conditions without disclosing sensitive information.

The app is available for download in both Android and iOs devices.

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Metro Manila.