This Week in Central Luzon (June 6 to 12, 2020)

Both Clark and Subic are now placed under general community quarantine until June 15, 2020. Despite being placed under a more relaxed quarantine status, the two areas are still required to observe minimum public health standards. Now that they are under GCQ, barber shops and salons are allowed to operate at 30% capacity, and can only increase up to 50% if the venue capacity of the establishments allow social distancing. [1 & 2]

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Wilma Eisma released a list of guidelines for public transportation services for Subic Bay. The guidelines are as follows:

1. Only SBMA-accredited taxis and company shuttles are allowed to ferry passengers inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

2. All passengers should be point-to-point only; no pick-up is allowed along the way.

3. Disinfection of vehicles should be done after each and every trip.

4. Taxi and shuttle passengers should be checked for COVID-19 symptoms before riding.

5. Sundo or fare bookings are only allowed for Subic Bay Freeport Zone housing residents. Multiple bookings/share-a-ride are not allowed.

6. Carpooling among employees of the same company is allowed. The company has to submit to the Motor Vehicles Registration Office a list of carpooling vehicles (driver’s name, car registration, plate number).

7. Each type of vehicle has an assigned maximum number of passengers. [3]

Clark International Airport has also released a set of guidelines for public transportation as it awaits for the resumption of commercial flights. Below is a list of flights that are allowed to operate:

1. Government/military flights

2. International flights subject to existing IATF-EID/BOQ protocols

3. Air ambulance and medical supplies

4. Flight check and weather mitigation flights

5. Maintenance and utility flights

6. Special airport-to-airport trip arranged by the airlines, in coordination with the airport authorities

Public safety measures like wearing face masks and other protective equipment and observance of social distancing must be followed. Only passengers with valid travel documents shall be allowed to enter the airport premises. Checking of temperature is also mandatory upon entry. Passengers and essential personnel shall be allowed entry and exit to airport terminals. Moreover, disinfecting facilities established in terminals shall be equipped with alcohol and/or soap. Foot baths shall also be installed in all entry/exit points of passengers and airport personnel. All airport facilities and equipment shall be regularly disinfected and sanitized. [4]

Barber shops and salons can finally resume operations in all areas under general community quarantine starting June 7, 2020, but only at 30% capacity. If the venues for these establishments are big and wide enough to allow social distancing, then they can slowly increase their operating capacity at 50%. All barber shops and salons are mandated to observe public safety measures such as wearing protective equipment and disinfecting of hands, gears, and the entire shop. [5]

The Office Services Department and ID Division are issuing one-day passes to all individuals who need to buy medicine that are only available in drugstores found inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Here are the following steps that must be followed to acquire a one-day pass:

1. The requestor must submit or call in a request to the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department at 252-4880 from Mondays to Saturdays at 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

2. PHSD will validate/certify the request. If disapproved, PHSD will inform the requestor; if approved, PHSD will pass on the request to the Pass and ID Division.

3. The Pass and ID Division will issue the one-day pass to requestor. [6]

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Central Luzon.