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

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.

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].

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].

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].

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].

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.

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].

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].

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.