This Week News

This Week in Palawan (April 27 to May 3, 2020)

The enhanced community quarantine ends this week.

By: Denisse Shawntel Tan | April 27, 2020
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Palawan, enhanced community quarantine, Lockdown news, Global News, Travel News, Shopping News

The enhanced community quarantine ends on April 30 but before it ends, the local government of Palawan has made measures to make sure that the remaining days will be organized and safe such as placing Barangay Paly under extreme community quarantine and passing an anti-discrimination ordinance for frontliners. In terms of transportation and shopping, tricycles with essential goods are allowed to traverse the roads, and residents were advised to wear gloves when buying at the market. Water bill penalties were waived until the end of ECQ while the taxes payment deadline was moved to June 30, 2020.


Quarantine Updates


ECQ extended in specific areas; Palawan classified as low-risk

The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is set to be lifted on April 30, but President Rodrigo Duterte has announced its extension until May 15 in areas with high concentration of COVID-19 cases. These include the National Capital Region, Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4-A (CALABARZON), Pangasinan, Benguet, Mindoro, Albay, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao City. Palawan, on the other hand, is considered a low-risk area [1].



This is the second extension of the ECQ. The initial restriction was meant to last until April 14 but was extended to April 30. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health experts have warned that hastily lifting quarantines can lead to a second wave of infections. An example of such is Singapore, which has faced a resurgence after their gradual relaxing of the quarantine rules.

Taytay island village placed under extreme quarantine

In another piece of lockdown news, the island fishing village of Paly in the municipality of Taytay has been placed under extreme community quarantine from April 18 to 30 to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in the area. According to Mayor Romy Salve, the quarantine was ordered after a group of local fishermen returned from different provinces such as Batangas where they sold fish. There hasn’t been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Barangay Paly and the rest of Taytay, but the extreme community quarantine is a preventive measure against the potential spread of the virus.

The extreme community quarantine prohibits any individual from leaving the barangay. Residents are also required to follow the liquor ban and to wear face masks. Fishermen were still allowed to catch and sell fish, but only within the barangay. Exemptions from the ExCQ are medical emergencies. The local government has also made sure to provide help to residents [2].

Anti-discrimination and harassment ordinance aims to protect frontliners and patients

The Palawan Provincial Board approved the ordinance “Frontliners and Patient Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Ordinance of the Province of Palawan” which seeks to protect frontliners and their families from discrimination and harassment. The ordinance prohibits any acts of harassment and discrimination against frontliners including the following:

• physical injury
• disallowing to board public utility vehicles
• preventing entering their boarding house
• public ridicule
• physical or verbal abuse
• throwing any liquid, objects, or any materials
• denying access to food establishments
• indifference of treatment in availment of any public programs or services
• other inimical acts detrimental to the safety, health, condition, and interest of any frontliners

Those who will be found violating the ordinance will be fined PhP5,000 and could face imprisonment not exceeding one year [3].



Travel News


Tricycles with essential goods allowed on the road

Tricycles carrying essential goods are allowed on the road during the ECQ, according to the City Information Department (CID). In their Facebook live session , CID officer Richard Ligad clarified that tricycles carrying essential goods such as food, fruits and vegetables, and other market goods will be allowed to traverse the roads amidst the ECQ public transportation ban. Lugad also reminded the public that tricycles for public transportation are not allowed [4].


Shopping News


Shoppers advised to cover their hands while buying meat in stalls

Shoppers were advised to wear plastic bags or gloves when buying meat and fish in the market. The city government released a public advisory which aims to keep the products in the new and old public market clean. Wearing gloves and plastic was found to prevent contamination of the products and prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 and other potential viruses [5].


Banks and Remittances News


Payment for first quarter of local taxes is extended until June 30

The deadline of payments for the first quarter’s local taxes has been extended until June 30, 2020 by the city government [6]. According to City Councilor Victor Oliveros, the extension allows citizens to regain what they lost during the ECQ. The extension covers payment from local business tax, real property tax, amusement tax, and transfer tax. Only local tax payable within the first quarter of the year by Puerto Princesa establishments will be covered by the extension.



Puerto Princesa City Water District suspends penalty charge on water bill

The Puerto Princesa City Water District stated that they will not impose penalty charges on water bills and will only bill their customers their actual consumption. The temporary suspension of penalty charges will be effective until the end of the ECQ [7].


Global News


United States reaches almost a million of confirmed cases

The United States of America still has the most number of cases of COVID-19 all over the world with over 800,000 confirmed cases. The total of cases worldwide is currently at 2.6 million with recoveries over 600,000 and deaths over 180,000. There are currently 185 affected countries and regions [8].

Holiday News: May 1 is Labor Day

May 1 is Labor Day in the Philippines, a public holiday. This year marks the 107th year since the labor movement of the Philippines was recognized. Most businesses and companies are closed during this day [9].



Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Palawan.



Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/2S8i1y1
[2] https://bit.ly/2KvtW4D
[3] https://bit.ly/2VV5W0m
[4] https://bit.ly/2Y56Eus
[5] https://bit.ly/2VzsDbe
[6] https://bit.ly/2VRcfSw
[7] https://bit.ly/2W19pKC
[8] https://bit.ly/3565cta
[9] https://bit.ly/2xM79z3
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About Denisse Shawntel Tan
Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.
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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
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