This Week in Southern Luzon (April 18 to 24, 2020)

The government of Lipa, Batangas passed the Anti COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020, an ordinance that will penalize anyone who discriminates COVID-19 patients and medical workers. Effective since April 6, 2020, any person who commits actions that cause stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation, harassment, or discrimination against an infected person or a frontliner shall be fined PhP5,000, imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both at the discretion of court. Should a public officer become an offender, the maximum penalty will be imposed.

After receiving reports from patients and medical workers who got evicted from their residences, the ordinance was drafted by the city government. Not only were these people prevented from returning to their homes, but they were also doused with water and refused in eateries or services in fear of the infection. The ordinance stated that the government will be protecting their citizens against unjust discrimination amid the global crisis. [1]

The Tagaytay City Health Office released an advisory last April 12, 2020 reminding its citizens to practice safety measures. In a social media post, the Health Office emphasized that social distancing must be strictly observed and wearing of face masks must be followed. The advisory also states that senior citizens, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people are prohibited from leaving their homes. If an individual develops cough, colds, fever, and breathing difficulty, he or she must contact the city’s COVID-19 hotline. [2]

Batangas has released new color-coded quarantine passes from the Department of Interior and Local Government and Batangas City Government [3]. The new quarantine passes include 7 different colors, with each color determining the day of the week a quarantine pass holder can leave his or her home to buy essentials. The new color-coded scheme will be effective starting April 15, 2020. Here are the following colors and their corresponding schedules:

1. Orange - Monday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

2. Yellow - Tuesday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

3. Green - Wednesday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

4. Blue - Thursday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

5. Red - Friday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

6. Purple - Saturday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

7. Pink - Sunday, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM

The Department of Interior and Local Government - Batangas issued an ordinance last April 11, 2020 which states that Barangay Service Vehicles are not allowed to transport unauthorized persons or individuals who are not exempted from the travel ban. The only considered frontliners are esssential people including medical workers, people in funeral services, emergency responders, security services, people working in establishments that provide daily essentials, and people from law enforcement; only they are exempted from the travel ban and are allowed to use transportation. [4]

Due to the enhanced community quarantine extension, SM Malls in Batangas have adjusted their operating schedules once more [5]. These said schedules will be effective starting April 14, 2020. Here are the malls and their corresponding store hours:

1. SM Supermarket - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

2. Bills Payment (inside SM Supermarket) - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

3. BDO - Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday - closed

4. Watsons - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

5. Western Union - 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

1. SM Supermarket - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

2. Bills Payment (inside SM Supermarket) - Monday to Friday only: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

3. North Carpark - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

4. Watsons - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

5. BDO - Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday - closed

6. China Bank - Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday - Closed

1. SM Hypermarket - 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

2. Watsons (inside SM Hypermarket) - 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

3. BDO - Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday - Closed

4. Greenwich, GF - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (for delivery only)

The Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano announced that additional police will be deployed to markets and urban centers around the country to make sure that no person will violate the quarantine rules and regulations. Police force will be added in places like market entrances and exits to implement stricter policies of the ECQ. [6]

Last Saturday, the Department of Health released new classifications of individuals for COVID-19. Persons under monitoring (PUM) will no longer be part of the new classifications. Meanwhile, persons under investigation (PUIs) with mild, severe, and critical symptoms but have not been tested yet will be classified as “suspect”. The “probable cases” are PUIs with mild, severe, and critical symptoms and have been tested but still have no/unsure results. Lastly, COVID-19 positive patients will be called “confirmed cases.”

If an individual acquires fever as high as 38 degrees, cough, colds, has travel history or close contact with a confirmed or probable case and starts to manifest symptoms within 14 days, he or she will be considered a suspect case. Suspect cases also include senior citizens, women with sensitive pregnancy, and health workers who have colds, cough, and breathing difficulties, and those who suddenly experience lung problems with no definite cause. [7]

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