This Week in Palawan (May 10 to 16, 2020)

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Narra and the mayor’s office has issued an executive order to specify which industries are now allowed to operate. The directive will be effective until May 14 if there is no change in the town’s risk level. Industries are categorized as follows:

• Category I (open 100%): agriculture, fishery, forestry, food manufacturing and its entire supply chain, food retail, healthcare, logistics, water, energy, internet, telecoms and media (with the exception that restaurants and fast foods are only allowed to offer delivery and take outs).

• Category II (open 50-100%): other manufacturing like electronics and exports, e-commerce and delivery for essential and non-essential items and other non-leisure services

• Category III (open 50%): financial services, other non-leisure wholesale and retail trade and other non-leisure services

• Category IV (closed 100%): schools, leisure, amusement, gaming, fitness, “child” industry, tourism, all gatherings, malls (limited opening) and construction (limited opening).[1]

Under the executive order, workers and establishments that belong to Categories I, II, and III may now return to work or operate in phases. Meanwhile, those under Category IV are still not allowed to resume their operations.

Authorized persons outside residence (APOR) who live within the bounds of Puerto Princesa City will be allowed to pass checkpoints without having to present a home quarantine pass (HQP) and valid identification cards. However, checkpoints located at the city borders will still ask for more documents for those on inter–municipality travel. [2]

From May 5 to 15, the city council has approved an ordinance that funds selected multicabs to offer free rides in exchange for 12 liters of fuel and PhP1,000 cash to be divided between the driver and owner. According to Councilor Victor Oliveros, multicabs or jeepneys that offer free rides will be marked to indicate to the public that the fare is free. Meanwhile, tricycle drivers will be allowed to operate on national highways, and 3,125 units will be given 2 liters of gas every day. These public utility vehicles (PUVs) are allowed to carry passengers provided they observe social distancing. [3]

Due to lockdowns in other parts of the world, domestic travel might be the key to jump start tourism. Once the ECQ and GCQ are lifted all over the Philippines and the tourism sector opens again, Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. foresees that domestic travelers will be the ones to revive the industry. [4] In the first quarter of 2020, Bengzon noted that the Philippines has seen a 35 percent drop in revenues from foreign arrivals compared to the same period last year.

Following the guidelines on allowed sectors in areas under GCQ, SM City Puerto Princesa has reopened 56 stores including appliance stores, fast food chains and restaurants (without dine-in options), fashion and retail brands, gadgets, techs and accessory needs, and salons. These stores are to follow health protocols and will only accommodate customers at a limited capacity. [5]

At May 4, the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) resumed its operations and services including bills payment, application for reconnection, and other frontline services; however, application for new connection is still not available. Bills during the ECQ (March to April) and the month of May will not be subject to a surcharge or penalty, disconnection notices will be delayed until further notice, and there will be no minimum rate consumption below 10 cubic meter for the reading period of March to May. [6]

As measures against COVID-19 were eased in various parts of the world, people go outdoors in an attempt to return to their normal lives. Crowds of storekeepers gather in Venice asking to open their shops; commuters filled the platforms of Cadorna in Milan; beaches in Barcelona buzz with activity; beaches in Florida and Tampa Bay teem with locals; and a public park in Miami, Queensland is filled with hordes of people. Despite the relaxing of rules, authorities remind citizens to observe social distancing, wear masks, and not to stray too far away from their homes. [7] The World Health Organization has warned countries against easing coronavirus measures as this might cause a resurgence of cases.

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