By Armando Fenequito Jr.
DAVAO CITY – The provincial government of Davao del Norte has revoked an earlier order extending the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15, and has decided to, instead, shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) starting on Friday, May 1.
This after Governor Edwin Jubahib released Executive Order (EO) No. 37 on Thursday night for the implementation of GCQ in the province except at its capital Tagum City.
Last Wednesday night, the province released a statement that, under EO No. 34, the province will continue to be under ECQ, expected for the Island Garden City of Samal, until May 15.
Jubahib explained in the latest EO that the decision to implement GCQ was pursuant to the latest advisory of the National Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Disease, and recommendations of local chief executives.
He said under EO 37, people will only be allowed to go outside of their house to buy food or medicine, go to work, and attend to medical emergency. The use of the quarantine pass remains in effect, with validation from existing ID cards.
The governor said the wearing of face mask and other personal protective equipment in public areas, use of alcohol, temperature checks, and social distancing will still be mandatory to curb the spread of the virus.
Jubahib said all road blocks and chechpoints in all entry points in the province, including in the barangays, will also remain as part of their control measures.
The governor said the suspension of public transportation was already lifted, but public utility vehicles (PUVs) will only be allowed to ferry 50 percent of passenger load.
Jubahib said every local government unit (LGU) must ensure that operators shall have plastic cellophane barriers or partitions to separate the driver and the passengers.
“No public mass transportation is allowed to travel to Davao City, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental and vice versa,” he said.
He said individuals and vehicles from Davao City will not be allowed to enter Davao del Norte, except personnel working for the COVID-19 Crisis Management Team, emergency vehicles, health workers, police and military who are on official travel and those who have approved travel orders from Regional Task Force 11 - COVID19 Chairperson Mayor Sara Z. Duterte.
Jubahib said all public and private vehicles should also ferry only half of the vehicle’s passenger load capacity.
“In case of delivery vehicles or supply chain and service vehicles foe critical infrastructure on emergency repairs like transmission companies, drivers and their assistance must present their work pass with company ID and business permit. They are only allowed to leave their vehicles if they are loading or unloading their cargo and working within the proximity of their vehicle,” he said.
The governor said there will be selected establishments from the following sectors that will be allowed to open but on a limited capacity, in which only 50 percent of its personnel will work on-site and other 50 percent will be work-from-home.
“Flexible work arrangement, such as work-from-home, compressed work week, skeletal force in the workplaces must be implemented to reduce manpower by 50 percent and to safeguard the welfare of the workers,” he said.
Jubahib said there will be partial opening of the malls and shops, but, all other shops and stores whether inside or outside the mall such as movie theaters, arcades, food courts, atriums, playgrounds, fitness studios, bars and oter areas that may become potential venue for mass gathering wils till be temporarily closed.
The governor said transactions and services in the government will remain open to the public, however, it is only for single-transaction and must observe social distancing.
Jubahib said schools will be still closed since the suspension of classed and other academic activities are still in effect.
“Opening of classes is subject to the guidelines as may be issued by the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education,” he said.
He said all locally funded infrastructure projects will continue but subject to strict health safety standards.