This Week in Central Luzon (May 7 to 13, 2022)

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reminds voters of prohibited items during the election. COMELEC said that any clothing—shirts, face masks, hats, and the like—with the face of any candidate would not be allowed. However, voters are allowed to wear shirts with the color of their preferred candidate. Voters who violate this law may face one to six years of imprisonment.

On the other hand, COVID-19 patients cannot cast their votes in May 9 election. COMELEC urges patients to stay at home. However, individuals with symptoms with no confirmed results can still go to the polling places and be accommodated by poll workers.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) announced the alert level status of many areas in the Philippines. In the latest resolution issued last April 29, the IATF placed all of Central Luzon under Alert Level 1 until May 15 [1].

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) added more free rides for authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and healthcare workers in Central Luzon [2].

The free rides cover areas like Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. Covered routes include the following:

● Barangay Lagundi-Mexico-Macabebe via NLEX

● Arayat-San Fernando via Sta. Ana-Mexico

● Government Center (Sacop)-City of San Fernando-Downtown Hall via MacArthur Highway

● Lazatin Avenue-Capitol Boulevard-Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Loop Service) Barangay Lagundi

● Mexico to Porac via Megadike

● Malolos to SM City Pampanga/Robinsons Starmills via NLEX

● Malolos City to Meycauayan

● Bulacan thru NLEX, Minuyan Road

● Sapang Palay to Barangay Kaypia

● San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan thru City Hall

● Grotto to Sapang Palay thru Tungko Manga

● Grotto Shop and Ride to Minuyan Loop through Poblacion

● Paniqui to Tarlac thru Gerona

● Tarlac to Bamban thru Capas

● Bagac to Balanga and vice versa

● San Roque to Santa Ignacia thru New Salem-Sulipa-Gerona

● San Manuel to SM Tarlac via Moncada

● Paniqui and Gerona

● Tarlac City-Burnot via San Miguel

● Balanga-Orani via Abucay

● Samal, Subic, San Narciso via Subic Shipyard

● San Antonio, Zambales

● Subic-San Felipe via San Antonio, Zambales.

The new terminal building opened last May 2 at the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga. The new terminal was part of the Duterte Administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, and it aims to provide more state-of-the-art facilities in the airport that will benefit the tourism sector [3]. The terminal’s features include nursing stations, all-gender restrooms, self-check kiosks, multi-faith prayer rooms, and a lounge for OFWs.

Due to its 110,000 square-meters size, the new terminal can accommodate 8 million passengers annually, hoping to lessen the crowds at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

As of its soft opening, it welcomed flights from Cebu Pacific Air and Jetstar Asia.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Central Luzon!