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This Week in Southern Luzon (May 16 to 22, 2020)
Batangas is under general community quarantine until the 31st.
By: Antonette Louise Guiao | May 16, 2020
Last May 12, 2020, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced the new quarantine statuses of different areas in the country. While this technically means the entire country will still be under community quarantine, guidelines in places under general community quarantine like Batangas are now more relaxed compared to high-risk areas like NCR and Laguna. Despite being in GCQ, the province still observes strict safety and social distancing measures and has even inaugurated a newly-built emergency quarantine facility.
Quarantine Updates: Batangas now under general community quarantine
The province of Batangas is placed under general community quarantine starting May 16 until May 31, 2020. These are some of the guidelines to be followed under this new quarantine status:
• Establishments under agriculture, fishery, and food manufacturing will be allowed to fully operate.
• Government offices may also continue to fully operate, but alternative working arrangements may be implemented in accordance to issuances by the Civil Service Commission.
• Electronic commerce companies, delivery, repair, housing, office services, and other establishments under Category II are partially allowed to operate.
• Establishments under Category III which include financial services, business processing outsourcing, technical, and other non-leisure services are also partially allowed to operate, considering that 50% of the workforce will be on site and 50% will observe work-from-home.
• Schools, leisure, amusement, and tourism industries are still not allowed to operate under GCQ.
• Religious activities such as masses are still prohibited.
• Modes of public transportation will also be allowed, but vehicles may only transport 50% of their full capacity.
Under the GCQ, people under 21 years old and above 60 years old are not allowed to go out. This also goes for all pregnant women and those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, and other health risks. These people may not enter malls, except when buying essentials. Physical classes are still suspended under this quarantine status. [1, 2, 3]
Traffic News: Social distancing required in PUVs
The Department of Transportation released public transportation guidelines to ensure social distancing among the public. These guidelines will only be applicable to public utility vehicles that are allowed to operate in areas under general community quarantine.
• For public utility jeepneys, only 50% of the full capacity (excluding the driver) may be occupied.
• A window-type seating arrangement must be observed inside the vehicle, and all passengers must be one seat apart.
• Only one passenger may be allowed to sit on the passenger’s seat beside the driver.
• The passenger load of public utility buses are also limited to half of its capacity.
• Passengers inside public utility buses must also be one seat apart from each other.
• As for tricycles, only one passenger is allowed to ride inside the sidecar and passengers riding the backseat will be prohibited.
• Only two passengers are allowed inside the backseats of taxis and other transport network vehicles, while only one passenger is allowed to sit beside the driver.
• UV Express Services can only be filled up to half of their capacity, with two passengers per row and one passenger seated beside the driver. [4]
Shopping News: SM Batangas can deliver essentials
SM City Batangas is now open for delivery for all essential needs. To order, visit SM’s official website, select items from the store’s catalog, wait for an order confirmation from a branch representative for instructions regarding your payment and delivery, send proof of payment, and wait for the items to be delivered to your doorstep. SM’s catalog includes a variety of purchases from clothes to skin care needs. [5&6]
Health News: Batangas inaugurates emergency quarantine facility
Last May 10, 2020, a blessing and turn-over ceremony was held for the inauguration of Batangas Health Care Specialist Medical Center’s New Emergency Quarantine Facility located along Diversion Road, Barangay Alangilan. The said facility will be home to 16 new beds which were funded by Team EQUISPORT. The new emergency quarantine facility is only one out of 75 emergency quarantine facilities that are being constructed in and outside Metro Manila. [7]
Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Southern Luzon.
Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3czYUoI
[2] https://bit.ly/3cDcbgr
[3] https://bit.ly/2TaULQp
[4] https://bit.ly/2Z7GVlO
[5] https://bit.ly/2WAfnnr
[6] https://www.thesmstore.com/
[7] https://bit.ly/3bFko2e
About Antonette Louise Guiao
Antonette is a writer, a night owl, an extrovert, and a BTS ARMY. Her spare time is consumed by drawing digital vector art, sleeping, binge-watching Netflix series, and learning how to cook. An adventurer by heart, she aspires to travel the world with her family, try extreme outdoor activities, and taste all sorts of food in different countries.
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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are
for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although
careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all
information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended
to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
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