This Week in Palawan (June 8 to 14, 2020)

For this week’s lockdown news, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has placed Palawan from GCQ to MGCQ on June 1 to 15. Along with the change in quarantine level, the IATF has also set guidelines for MGCQ areas [1].

• Under the MGCQ guidelines, everyone can go outside provided they follow minimum health standards such as mandatory wearing of face masks, frequent hand washing, and observance of physical distancing.

• Public transportation on roads, sea, and air may resume operations, but they must follow safety measures for public vehicles set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

• In terms of mass gatherings, movie screenings, religious gatherings, concerts, sports events, community assemblies, entertainment activities, and other non-essential work gatherings will be allowed. However, the venue should only operate at a reduced capacity of 50 percent.

• Other establishments that may resume at 50 percent capacity are barber shops, salons, dine-in restaurants, food retail, and other personal care services. These businesses are also required to operate under safety guidelines set by the IATF.

• Physical activities such as jogging, walking, running, non-contact exercises, biking, swimming, and other indoor and outdoor sports will be allowed. However, sport equipment should not be shared to limit contact.

The guidelines are still subject to further issuances of other concerned departments.

Leisure businesses such as bars, movie theaters, and other entertainment facilities in Puerto Princesa City are allowed to resume operations in the city as Palawan. The said establishments are subject to operate following the curfew hours of 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. In addition, proper social distancing must also be observed.

SM City Puerto Princesa also started allowing dine-in services in restaurants as long as they are complying with the proper social distancing measures and health standards. However, whether or not a food establishment would offer dine-in services still depends on its management. Currently, big brands are still waiting for decisions from their head office regarding protocols [2]. SM City Puerto Princesa also ensured the public that stores are following the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) minimum health standards.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Puerto Princesa announced that there are no commercial flights in Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) until June 10. CAAP also said that they are still waiting for approval regarding the reopening of commercial flights at PPIA. Local airport authorities said that they are waiting for the decision of higher authorities, in compliance with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) [3].

CAAP also stated that initial dates published by airlines are still pending. Big airline companies such as the Philippine Airlines and AirAsia both announced the resumption of flights to domestic destinations.

Leisure and entertainment facilities such as bars are allowed to operate, but the city government of Puerto Princesa reminded bar owners that they can’t serve liquor during the MGCQ. In addition, bars also have to follow the 10:00 PM curfew [4]. Customers can’t drink liquor, but they can eat food and watch shows inside bars.

Along with the limit in liquor consumption and operating hours, the MGCQ guidelines also indicate that bars should also reduce their seating capacity. Punishments for violators are not indicated, but fines and imprisonment are expected for those who will disobey the guidelines.

SM City Puerto Princesa and Robinsons Place Puerto Princesa both announced new services that customers can use for a more convenient shopping experience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. SM has launched their City Shopper service which lets the customers shop for their needed essentials and have them delivered at home. Groceries will be available from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM only; food deliveries will be available from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM [5]. Robinsons also announced that customers can use services such as RPersonal Shopper, RDelivery, or Robinsons Malls Pickup Stations [6].

The City Sports Office (CSO) is preparing safety measures for the sports complex in Puerto Princesa before they reopen it to the public. CSO also tells the public to be patient as they have a lot to consider in terms of safety in the sports facility.

They said that IATF’s guide and protocols would be set on a local level. These protocols include the use of face masks while exercising, installation of foot baths and disinfection areas, organized contact tracing procedures, social distancing measures, and the like [7]. CSO is also checking if children would be allowed to use sports facilities. They are also planning to determine which IATF-approved guidelines can be adopted for different sport activities during MGCQ.

June 12 is a national holiday in the Philippines because it is the country’s Independence Day. During the holiday, there would be no work for employees all over the country.

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