This Week in Southern Luzon (August 8 to 14, 2020)

Last August 2, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ will be implemented once more to Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan until August 18. This was done in response to the appeal of the medical frontliners asking for a timeout amid the continuous rising of COVID-19 cases. Residents in the said areas are required to stay at home except when buying necessities and going to work. Domestic flights and inter-island travel are prohibited. Grooming, tourism, and leisure-related establishments will be temporarily closed once more. Restaurants will be limited to take-out and delivery services and mass gatherings will not be allowed. [1]

The province of Batangas was placed under general community quarantine from August 1 to 15, 2020, as per Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution no. 60-A. The Department of Interior and Local Government reminded all residents to continuously maintain social distancing, wear face masks and shields, and practice regular hand washing. [2]

Lipa City was placed under a 15-day lockdown from August 1 to 15 to contain COVID-19. Quarantine passes will be required from people going out of their homes to go to work or to buy essentials. Checkpoints will be implemented on some major and secondary boundary roads. Barangay chairmen were tasked to allot separate isolation facilities for people working outside Lipa but reside in the city. Those who work in the city but live in neighboring towns must present a rapid antibody test result. A liquor ban and a curfew from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM will be implemented as well, and bars and related establishments will be closed. [3 & 4]

The local government unit of San Juan, Batangas released guidelines after being placed under general community quarantine. Quarantine passes will be distributed not only to the public market, but to the residents who will be leaving their homes as well. Authorized persons outside residence or APOR may only be allowed to go out if they can present requirements such as their Certificate of Employment and Company ID, business permit/DTI/barangay business permit, and frontliners’ ID. Those with emergencies may get a one-day pass from their respective barangays. All quarantine passes will be color-coded according to clusters and their respective schedules/day when they are allowed to go outside. [5]

After being placed under MECQ, two municipalities in Rizal required their residents to wear both face masks and face shields when leaving their homes starting August 3. Binangonan Public Market has already implemented a “No Face Mask and Face Shield, No Entry” policy and a hypermarket in Cainta has yet to implement the same rule. The local government also stated that they will not be allowing the reopening of gyms, fitness centers, and internet shops in Cainta unless the cases decrease. [6]

The Department of Interior and Local Government - Batangas has released a memorandum that contains the recategorization of some business activities in Batangas. The memorandum includes additional services for grooming establishments like barber shops and salons, adjustment of operating hours, and the amendment of the Inter-Agency Task Force’s negative list. For more information and complete details, visit DILG - Batangas’ Official Facebook page. [7]

In a press statement last Friday, July 31, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Inter-Agency Task Force is encouraging the public to wear face shields in public spaces with low ventilation. However, Roque made it clear that there has been no order yet that requires the public to wear face shields. It was only recommended to help prevent the spread of the virus while in low-ventilated areas including public transportation. Other than that, people were also reminded to follow minimum public health standards such as regular washing of hands, wearing of face masks, and observing social distancing. [8]

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