This Week in Metro Manila (July 3 to 9, 2021)

In a recorded press conference last June 28, President Rodrigo Duterte extended NCR Plus bubble lockdown status to July 15. With this, Metro Manila, Rizal, and Bulacan will remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) [1]. Aside from these mentioned areas, other areas that will be in GCQ until July 15 are the following:

• Batangas

• Baguio City

• Cotabato

• General Santos City

• Ilagan City

• Isabela

• Nueva Vizcaya

• Quezon

• Quirino

• Sultan Kudarat

• Sarangani

• South Cotabato

However, the Davao region (Davao Oriental and Occidental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte) will be under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). The following areas will also be in MECQ:

• Apayao

• Bataan

• Butuan City

• Cagayan de Oro

• Davao City

• Iloilo

• Iloilo City

• Damagat Islands

• Puerto Princesa

• Lucena City

• Surigao del Sur

• Zamboanga del Norte

Areas not mentioned are under modified GCQ.

A major fuel company is now offering incentives to vaccinated motorists. Caltex Philippines now gives discounts to individuals who can present their vaccination cards. In addition to the vaccination card, drivers must also present a valid ID to prove their identity.

The discount will cover PhP2.00 per liter on diesel with Techron D. PhP3.00 per liter is offered in platinum and silver with Techron. The discount will be available in select Caltex stations until July 18. However, transactions per day are limited to two transactions only with a limit of 60 liters. In addition, the discount can’t be combined with rewards programs and existing promos offered by the gas station [2].

Due to the threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Philippines extended the travel ban on India and six other countries. The travel ban covers India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Oman [3].

Despite the travel ban, outbound travelers like overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are still allowed to go to the said countries, but Malacañang mentioned that OFWs must be extra careful.

The government’s travel ban is a preventive measure due to the Delta variant—which is 60 % more infectious than the Alpha variant. As of June 29, the Philippines have 17 cases of the Delta variant.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reassures the public that COVID-19 vaccines are effective against various virus variants, including Delta [4].

Currently, the country uses four vaccine brands: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sinovac, and Sputnik V. Among these brands, DFA Director-General Eric Domingo said that AstraZeneca and Pfizers are found effective against new variants based on data from the United Kingdom, where the new variants are prominent.

In addition, AstraZeneca has a 60% efficacy rate against the Delta variant and a 66% efficacy rate against the Alpha variant. For Pfizer, studies found that the vaccine has 93% efficacy against the Alpha variant and 88% against the Delta variant.

As for the remaining brands, ongoing studies have yet to determine their efficacy.

Taguig City starts its 24-operations in vaccination hubs to accommodate more residents. The vaccination hub will cover those under the A4 priority group, economic frontliners, and government workers [5].

Since the schedule will go beyond curfew hours, residents are reassured that they would not be apprehended as long as they show their appointment slips to enforcers. Before going to the vaccination sites, residents must set appointments via Taguig Registry for Access and Citizen Engagement (TRACE). Those who do not have quick access to the internet can use kiosks set up in villages and selected malls.

Visit Yoorekka Consumer Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Metro Manila!