Mayor Sara outlines guidelines as Davao City shifts to GCQ
Published May 15, 2020 12:00 am
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY - The city government here will be easing only a few lockdown measures that will allow business activities and offices to resume Saturday, May 16, after a two-month lull due to restrictions imposed in connection with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Mayor Sara Duterte (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio announced on Friday that the city will shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) effective on Saturday, May 16, that will relax restrictions and partially open the city’s economy.
But Duterte underscored that the movement of people in the city will remain regulated, a curfew will still be imposed, and the use of the Food and Medicine (FM) pass will continue under a GCQ.
"Life is far from normal. Dili pasabot nag GCQ na pwede na mag party o mamisita sa trato (GCQ does not mean you can go party or visit your boyfriend/girlfriend. Only those who can return to work are allowed to go outside," Sara said in a live radio interview via Davao City Disaster Radio.
Sara earlier advised the Dabawenyos to “manage their expectations under a GCQ”. They were also advised to remain cautious.
Based on her order, the clustering of barangays in a district will be lifted for purposes of travel, but people are advised to avoid areas categorized as very high-risk areas, high-risk areas, and medium risk areas based on risk assessment made.
A list of these risk areas will be published.
Duterte also said the ban on trucks traversing highways will also be lifted.
For other vehicles, physical distancing must be implemented such as seating arrangement with barriers in public utility vehicles.
She also said free bus rides will be provided by the city government.
All passengers in public and private transports are still required to present GCQ- exempted employee IDs or FM passes, while private vehicle drivers are also required to present employee ID or certification from the employer and a photocopy or mobile phone photo of the employer’s ID.
She also said liquor ban remains in-effect, and curfew should continue to be observed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. also stays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Sari-sari stores should close from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., while wet markets, or “palengkes”, must be closed by 5 p.m. to allow for daily disinfection.
Also not allowed to go out are those in the vulnerable sector – persons below 21 years old, those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency comorbidities, or health risks, and pregnant women.
"They can only go out when indispensable under circumstances (senior living alone, emergency, visit clinics), for obtaining goods and services or for work in permitted industries and offices," Sara said.
The FM pass remains regulated that it will only be used (with a valid ID) to buy food and medicine or go to the hospital. FM passes with the last digits 1,3,5,7,9 can only be used on Monday, Wednesday, Friday while those with last digits 0,2,4,6,8 can be used only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday from 5 a.m to 9 p.m. FM pass cannot be used on Sunday.
Duterte reiterated that the GCQ guidelines conform with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Omnibus Guidelines Section 3 on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, and the DTI Memorandum Circular 20-22.
Mayor Sara Duterte (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio announced on Friday that the city will shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) effective on Saturday, May 16, that will relax restrictions and partially open the city’s economy.
But Duterte underscored that the movement of people in the city will remain regulated, a curfew will still be imposed, and the use of the Food and Medicine (FM) pass will continue under a GCQ.
"Life is far from normal. Dili pasabot nag GCQ na pwede na mag party o mamisita sa trato (GCQ does not mean you can go party or visit your boyfriend/girlfriend. Only those who can return to work are allowed to go outside," Sara said in a live radio interview via Davao City Disaster Radio.
Sara earlier advised the Dabawenyos to “manage their expectations under a GCQ”. They were also advised to remain cautious.
Based on her order, the clustering of barangays in a district will be lifted for purposes of travel, but people are advised to avoid areas categorized as very high-risk areas, high-risk areas, and medium risk areas based on risk assessment made.
A list of these risk areas will be published.
Duterte also said the ban on trucks traversing highways will also be lifted.
For other vehicles, physical distancing must be implemented such as seating arrangement with barriers in public utility vehicles.
She also said free bus rides will be provided by the city government.
All passengers in public and private transports are still required to present GCQ- exempted employee IDs or FM passes, while private vehicle drivers are also required to present employee ID or certification from the employer and a photocopy or mobile phone photo of the employer’s ID.
She also said liquor ban remains in-effect, and curfew should continue to be observed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. also stays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Sari-sari stores should close from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., while wet markets, or “palengkes”, must be closed by 5 p.m. to allow for daily disinfection.
Also not allowed to go out are those in the vulnerable sector – persons below 21 years old, those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency comorbidities, or health risks, and pregnant women.
"They can only go out when indispensable under circumstances (senior living alone, emergency, visit clinics), for obtaining goods and services or for work in permitted industries and offices," Sara said.
The FM pass remains regulated that it will only be used (with a valid ID) to buy food and medicine or go to the hospital. FM passes with the last digits 1,3,5,7,9 can only be used on Monday, Wednesday, Friday while those with last digits 0,2,4,6,8 can be used only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday from 5 a.m to 9 p.m. FM pass cannot be used on Sunday.
Duterte reiterated that the GCQ guidelines conform with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Omnibus Guidelines Section 3 on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, and the DTI Memorandum Circular 20-22.