By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The city and province of Iloilo slide down to the more permissive General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from GCQ with Heightened Restrictions starting Oct. 16-31, 2021.
Malacañang confirmed the new classification in a message to reporters on Oct. 13.
Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental will also be placed under GCQ, while Bacolod City and Capiz will be under GCQ with Heightened Restrictions (GCQ-HR).
The new classification was announced a day after Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas asked the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to de-escalate the city’s quarantine status due to lower cases in the past week.
On Monday, the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) reported that Region 6 is under Moderate Risk based on the number of new cases logged between September 23 and October 6 (8,712), which is 28 percent lower than 12,115 cases from Sept. 9 to 22.
New cases per 100,000 people in the region also decreased to 7.87 in the recent 2-week period compared to 10.95 in the previous period.
The percentage of COVID case growth is called the 2-Week Growth Rate (2WGR) while the number of cases per 100,000 in an area is called the Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR). These parameters are measured by the DOH in 14-day periods.
Even before the new classification was announced, Treñas confirmed to Daily Guardian that he would shorten the city’s curfew period, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. 4 a.m.
As of this writing, Treñas has yet to issue an Executive Order (EO), amending EO 155 s. 2021, for the shorter curfew hours to take effect.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Treñas said that the city’s economic status and COVID vaccination rates warranted lesser restrictions in the city.
He said that the city would be ready for COVID surges, citing the 30-bed modular hospital which was near completion, and another 44-bed modular hospital which would start development soon.
The mayor also cited a permanent city hospital which will break ground this year.
“We know that businesses and jobs are heavily affected, that is why I pushed to vaccinate those from [Iloilo province] since many of them are working in the city and considering that we’ve already fully vaccinated 53 percent of the population and 63 percent on a first dose, I think we can gradually go back to [Modified GCQ],” he said.
Treñas is also pushed for the vaccination of minors 12 to 17 years old starting Oct. 19, 2021 saying that he had recommended to the IATF-MEID’s three mega vaccination sites in the city.
The sites include the West Visayas State University Medical Center in Jaro district, the Ateneo De Iloilo in Mandurriao (near QualiMed Hospital), University of San Agustin (near St. Paul Hospital and Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital).
Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines turned over by the national government will be used for these vaccinations.
The Food and Drug Administration this year issued emergency use authorization for these COVID vaccines for minors 12 to 17 years old.
Treñas said that the vaccination of these age groups will eventually lead to reopening of face-to-face classes in the city.
He said that “vaccine czar”, peace process chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., will advocate for his request.
“I really am pushing for the vaccination of minors because our children haven’t [experienced] face-to-face education for 1 year and 8 months, and I feel sorry that their education has been affected. We are targeting to start the piloting on October 19,” he said.
GCQ RULES
The General Community Quarantine (GCQ) is a form of quarantine with moderate and lenient measures as compared to ECQ and MECQ.
It is implemented in provinces or cities that have a moderate to low risk of COVID-19. Safety protocols are still to be enforced in establishments and LGUs should still follow a curfew to non-workers.
Under the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine as of August 19, 2021, areas under GCQ shall observe the following protocols:
POPULATION ACTIVITIES
-The elderly and the youth should stay at home, except for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in industries and offices or such other permitted activities
– Outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise such as but not limited to walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, diving, and skateboarding are allowed.
– Religious gatherings shall be allowed up to thirty percent (30%) of the venue capacity. Provided, that there is no objection from the local government unit. LGU concerned may increase the allowable venue capacity up to fifty percent (50%).
-Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed up to thirty percent (30%) of the venue capacity. Provided, that the LGU concerned may increase the allowable venue capacity up to fifty percent (50%).
– Visits to memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaria shall be limited to not more than ten (10) persons per group and not exceeding thirty percent (30%) of the venue capacity. Provided, that the LGU concerned may increase the allowable venue capacity up to fifty percent (50%).
TRANSPORTATION
-Public transport with strict safe distancing
-All public and private vehicles are allowed with load limit according to mode of transport
-Inter-island transport is allowed (GCQ to GCQ places only)
SCHOOL AND GOVERNMENT WORKPLACES
-Schools – skeletal workforce is allowed to process requirements, prepare graduation
-Alternative work arrangements (e.g. 4-day work week)
-Face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education shall be suspended. The basic education sector shall operate in accordance with the guidelines of DepEd. Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and technical vocational education and training may be allowed, subject to the guidelines of CHED and TESDA, respectively.
CONSTRUCTION
-Construction workers accredited by the DPWH to work on facilities for healthcare and for risk reduction can resume
ALLOWED SECTORS AND RELEVANT VALUE CHAINS:
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Manufacturing of essential goods
Other manufacturing such as wood products, non-metallic products, tobacco, paper and paper products, rubber and plastic products, machinery and equipment, etc.
Hospitals and clinics
Essential retail
Laundry shops
Food preparation and water-refilling: take out and delivery only
Logistics service providers
Delivery service
Utilities
Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
Telecommunications companies
Energy companies
Gasoline stations
Construction workers accredited by DPWH
Manufacturing companies and suppliers of products necessary for construction
Media establishments
Cement and steel
Mining and quarrying
Electronic commerce companies
Postal, courier, and delivery services
Export-oriented companies
Real estate activities (buying, selling, appraising, etc)
Public and private construction projects that are essential (sewerage, health facilities, water services facilities)
Repair of computers and personal and household goods
Housing service activities
Office administrative and office support
Funeral and embalming services
Veterinary clinics
Security and investigation activities
BPO
Banks, money, transfer services, MFIs, pawnshops, and credit cooperatives
Capital markets (BSP, SEC, PDEC, etc.)
Legal and accounting
Management and consultancy activities
Architecture and engineering activities
Scientific and research development
Advertising and market research
Computer programming (e.g., writing code, designing computer systems) and information service activities (e.g., data processing)
Publishing and printing activities (e.g., newspapers, books, etc; printing on textiles, glass, etc.)
Film, music and TV production
Rental and leasing, other than real estate (e.g., vehicles, equipment for permitted sectors)
Employment activities (e.g., recruitment and placement for permitted sectors)
Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles. Motorcycles, and bicycles, including their parts and components
Other activities (e.g., photography, fashion, industrial, graphic, and interior design)
Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles (including vulcanizing shops, battery repair shops, auto repair shops)
Malls and commercial centers (non-leisure only)
PARTIALLY ALLOWED SECTORS AND RELEVANT VALUE CHAINS:
Accommodation for guests
Dining/Restaurants
NOT ALLOWED SECTORS AND RELEVANT VALUE CHAINS:
Barbershops and salons
Entertainment industries (e.g., cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, etc.)
Kid amusement industries (e.g., playrooms, rides)
Libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers
Tourist destinations (e.g., water parks, beaches, resorts)
Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities
Personal care services (e.g., massage parlors, sauna, facial care, waxing, etc.
Gyms/fitness studios and sports facilities
