LIST: Businesses allowed in enhanced, general quarantine areas

The Philippines on Tuesday released the list of activities and businesses that are allowed to operate in quarantine areas, as it moved to reopen parts of the economy that were shuttered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte extended the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in Metro Manila and high risk areas to May 15. All other areas will be be placed under looser general community quarantine or GCQ from May 1.

The following are ALLOWED under ECQ and GCQ

• Agriculture and fisheries and the entire value chain including manufacturing of feeds, fertilizers and pesticides
• Manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products, essential products, medicines and medical supplies including:
• All food
• Essential hygiene products such as soaps, detergents shampoo, conditioners, diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissue, wipes and toilet papers
• Disinfectants
• Medicines and vitamins
• Medical products such as PPEs, masks, gloves, Pet food
• Hospitals and medical clinics
• Dental and EENT clinics (with strict health standards)
• Retail establishments (groceries, supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, public markets, pharmacies and drug stores
• Food preparations and water stations) 
• Logistics service providers (cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, freight forwarding and shipping line)
• Delivery services, whether or not e-commerce platform, in-house or outsourced, transporting only food, water, medicine, pet food, hardware products or other basic necessities
• Banks and capital markets, per section 5 of IATF Resolution No. 13 dated March 17, 2020
• Power, energy, water, IT and telecommunications supplies and facilities, waste disposal services and technical services to above utilities
• Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply
• Postal and courier activities
• Water collection, treatment and supply
• Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities (except materials recovery - junk shop)
• Sewerage (except emptying of septic tanks)
• Veterinary activities
• Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
• Repair of computers and personal household goods
• Services to buildings and landscape activities (except landscape care)
• Employment activities (manpower services for essential activities)
• Security and investigation activities
• Programming and broadcasting activities
• Rental and leasing activities (except for entertainment and mass gathering purposes)
• Accommodations used as quarantine facilities for OFW and overseas Filipinos, as well as temporary accommodation for essential industries such as healthcare facilities, banks, BPOs, exporters and other frontline service sectors
• Services to buildings and landscape activities
• Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas
• Gasoline stations
• Laundry shops (including self-service)
• Funeral services
• Export companies (with temporary accommodation and shuttle services
• Business process outsourcing companies (with temporary accommodation and shuttle services, work from home)
• Mining and quarrying

The following are ALLOWED in GCQ areas:

• Other manufacturing activities:
•   Beverages
•   Cement and steel
•   Electrical machinery
•   Wood products, furniture
•   Non-metallic products
•   Textile/wearing apparels
•   Tobacco products
•   Paper and paper products
•   Rubber and plastic products
•   Coke and refined petroleum products
•   Other non-metallic mineral products
•   Computer, electronic and optical products
•   Electrical equipment 
•   Machinery and equipment
•   Motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers
•   Other transport equipment
• Malls and commercial centers (including hardware stores, clothing and accessories and non-leisure stores)
• Barbershops, salons, spas and other personal care industries (with strict health standards)
• Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
• Construction and Build, Build, Build
• Forestry and logging
• Publishing activities
• Motion picture, video and television program production, sound recording and music publishing activities
• Advertising and market research 
• Real estate activities (except buying and selling)
• Office administrative, office support and other business activities
• Legal and accounting
• Insurance, reinsurance, and pension funding except compulsory social security
• Architecture and engineering activities, technical testing analysis
• Scientific and research development
• Other professional, scientific and technical activities
• Social work activities without accommodation
• Government office - frontline offices

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-businesses-allowed-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas

Sotto: ECQ should not be lifted in Metro Manila, but modified in other areas

By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said he expects President Duterte to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon that are most affected by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a radio interview, Sotto said President Duterte should not lift the ECQ for largely-affected areas but modify it for others with less or no transmission of COVID-19.

“Ang inaasahan ko at sana ay maging mangyari ay modified. Modified, meaning ‘yong mga biggest hit na areas katulad ng NCR, ay ibang klaseng, hindi pwedeng i-lift. Kailangang i-extend. Pero merong mga modifications (I am expecting, and I hope it will happen, that the ECQ will be modified. Modified, meaning in the biggest-hit areas like the National Capital Region, the ECQ should not be lifted. It should be extended, but there has to be some modifications),” he told radio station DZMM.

He said “enhanced social distancing” may just be enforced in some provinces that recorded low or no coronavirus infections like Palawan and the Ilocos Region, as well some areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

The Senate leader attended President Duterte’s meeting with Cabinet officials and health experts on Monday regarding the government’s game plan after the ECQ lapses on April 30.

Duterte is reportedly set to announce his decision whether to extend, modify, or lift the ECQ on Thursday, April 23.

Sotto agreed with the health experts and said the government cannot abruptly lift the quarantine measures in fear of more COVID-19 infections.

He suggested, however, to let certain sectors and workers to resume operations, like tricycles and other modes of public transport, or construction, while maintaining safe distancing.

This was also the view of his colleagues in the Senate who said essential industries could be allowed to operate to help restart the local economy.

“Those towns that are COVID-free can restart commerce in a limited way. Wearing masks, social distancing etc. It’s more sustainable if the [local government unit] and the private sector can do mass testing, isolation, and treatment of patients,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said in a text message on Tuesday.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also said the quarantine can be lifted in some areas in Luzon “because they are far from having an outbreak.”

“In areas like NCR, Cebu, Bulacan, and Davao City, we can look at economic considerations in exempting some sectors from the quarantine but with the caveat that we will practice social distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing protocols, and of course, conducting regular random testing in these sectors,” he said.

Extending the lockdown in largely affected areas like Metro Manila while easing it in others with less COVID-19 cases “sounds like a reasonable compromise,” said Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.

He said, however, that ports should remain open and food should be free to move around the country since they are “an absolute essential.”

“Whatever the decision of the President must be announced with some lead time especially if it involves some lifting or relaxation of the ECQ since preparations must be made on the ground,” Angara said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/04/22/sotto-ecq-should-not-be-lifted-in-metro-manila-but-modified-in-other-areas/

DoTr proposes to free up P15-B funds for coronavirus response

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Monday said it identified 35 transport projects where around P15 billion can be freed up for the government’s coronavirus pandemic response efforts.

“submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the list of projects for budget realignment to free up P15.1 billion of funds for initiatives to mitigate COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” the department said in a statement.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran declined to provide the list, but said it includes 35 program items and projects across all transport sectors such as rails, airports, ports and roads.

“Hindi ko pa ma-ishare kasi proposal pa lang siya (I cannot share the list because it’s just a proposal). It’s still up to the DBM if they will accept it,” she said in a phone interview.

Ms. Libiran said the projects are not being axed and will still proceed since only a portion of their budgets may be realigned.

“Hindi ititigil ang project… ’Yung portion ng budget ng projects na hindi naman madi-disburse this year, ’yun ang pwede naming ibigay o i-realign (The project will not be stopped… The portion of the budget that will not be disbursed this year, we can realign those),’’ she said.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the President has the authority to realign items from the 2019 and 2020 national budgets so it can fund measures to contain COVID-19.

The government has allocated P1.45 trillion so far for fiscal and monetary measures for COVID-19 response, the Finance department said. Around P304 billion has been allotted to assist the most vulnerable sectors, while the majority of the P830.272-billion funds will go to initiatives that will support the economy.

The Department of Finance recently said government expenditures are expected to hit P583 billion for emergency support to vulnerable sectors alone, while it has allotted P35 billion for medical expenses for the COVID-19 fight.

Work on many public infrastructure projects have stopped in Luzon, as the island was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on March 16. The ECQ is scheduled to be lifted on April 30, although the government is weighing whether or not to extend it further.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed limited work for 13 rail projects despite the Luzon-wide lockdown.

These rail projects are the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension, LRT-2 East Extension, LRT-2 West Extension, LRT-2 Fire Restoration, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation, MRT-7, Metro Manila Subway, Common Station, Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark 1, PNR Clark 2 and Calamba, Subic-Clark Railway, PNR Bicol, and Mindanao Railway.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar has said the department has reallocated a small amount — about P30 billion — from the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program to help finance the response to the crisis.

The “Build, Build, Build” budget stood at P816.2 billion last year. This year, the main agencies implementing the program, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the DoTr, have been given a budget of P581.7 billion and P100.6 billion respectively.

Mr. Villar has also said that projects under the infrastructure program will be slightly delayed, but targets for 2020 will still be met.

https://www.bworldonline.com/dotr-proposes-to-free-up-p15-b-funds-for-coronavirus-response/

D-Day on lockdown: April 23

Until then, Duterte agonizes over the issue: maintain, modify, lift

President Rodrigo Duterte will decide whether to extend or modify the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon on Thursday, April 23, to give Filipinos enough time to prepare for possible changes, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said Tuesday.

President Duterte will meet with the country’s coronavirus pandemic task force on the same day, said Go. There is a possibility the ECQ will be modified, the President’s former aide added.

This developed as none of the health experts that Duterte consulted pushed for a total lockdown in Luzon to slow the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), the Palace said Tuesday.

In a televised briefing, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said most of the experts said if the enhanced quarantine is extended beyond April 30, it should not cover the whole of Luzon.

“The recommendation was to maintain, relax, or lift the ECQ in different areas, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases,” Roque said in Filipino.

Roque said the President asked the experts about the possible outcomes if the Luzon-wide ECQ is lifted, modified or maintained. He also asked if there could be a second wave of infections, and how many would die if the restrictions are lifted soon.

Former Health Secretaries Esperanza Cabral, Janette Garin, and Jaime Galvez Tan, public health expert Dr. Susan Mercado, health reform advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon and Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the University of the Philippines attended the five-hour meeting in Malacañang.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Christopher Go, Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, and some Cabinet officials were also there.

Roque said that while the President had received recommendations from health and business experts, he has yet to meet top government officials on how to address the outbreak.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases  said it is not easy for them to come up with a decision, saying “we still have time for the President to give his decision.”

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesman for the IATF, said that the meeting with experts for the private sector and government officials failed to reach a consensus on the next steps once the ECQ expires on April 30.

“It was a very extensive discussion and all the inputs that could be provided were discussed but we need more time so we have to do another round of discussions,” Nograles said.

The World Health Organization has warned that if restrictions are relaxed before storng systems are in place to identify, isolate and care for the sick and to trace their contracts, a resurgence of COVID-19 cases is likely.

“I’m sure nobody wants to see another spike but lifting restrictions so soon,” WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific Dr. Takeshi Kasai said.

In a virtual press conference, Kasai said the lifting of lockdown needs to be done gradually.

He said decision on the lifting or easing of a lockdown should be guided by public health principles.

Kasai added that any lifting of restrictions should be done in a gradual, phased manner.

“We should always remember why we’re doing this.. we’re doing this to keep the number... [of infections lower so that] health care facilities can manage. And we’re doing this to really make sure the vulnerable are protected,” the WHO official said.

Kasai reiterated that this COVID-19 battle is going to be a long one and it”s really important time for people to think about a new way of living.

Senators on Tuesday backed a modified ECQ after the quarantine period ends on April 30.

Senator Joel Villanueva said there are several things the government should consider in deciding on whether to lift or to extend the quarantine.

Based on the data presented by the UP COVID Response Team, he said there are areas in Luzon where quarantine can be lifted because they are far from having an outbreak.

In areas like Metro Manila, Cebu, Bulacan and Davao City, Villanueva cited the need to look at economic considerations in exempting some sectors from the quarantine but with the caveat that they will practice the social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing protocols and regular random testing in these sectors.

He noted that the UP School of Economics refers to this sector as the super spreaders.

“They have high impact on the economy but also have high impact in spreading the disease,” Villanueva said.

“We can let them operate but on the condition that they will comply with very strict protocols,” he said.

He cited as examples the construction, logistics and food production sectors.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara it sounds like a reasonable compromise.

He said ports are open and operating and food should be free to move around the country as an absolute essential.

“Whatever the decision of the President is must be announced with some lead time especially if it involves some lifting or relaxation of the ECQ since preparations must be made on the ground,” he added.

Senator Manny Pacquiao said the lifting of the ECQ would depend on the country”s mass testing capacity.

“My personal opinion is unless we have conducted mass testing among Filipinos, it would be better to extend the ECQ even just a little longer for the safety of the public,” he said.

Senators Panfilo Lacson, Sherwin Gatchalian and Go opted for a modified ECQ that is still compliant with social distancing.

“While we value the primacy of life and public health, it cannot be denied that the country”s economy should not be ignored,” Lacson said.

He proposed that a risk assessment and action plan be conducted to produce a clearer picture of the impact of an extended lockdown moving forward to a post-April 30 scenario or even after.

Lacson cited data from the UP School of Economics, which showed that 70 percent of the country”s workforce are in the micro, small and medium enterprises, which account for at least 30 percent of the economy

In Metro Manila alone, he said at least 250,000 people from that sector are suffering from lost income.

Gatchalian said the enforcement of a modified ECQ should still depend on the analysis and recommendations of public health and medical experts, as well as scientists, and the flattening of the country”s COVID-19 curve.

Modifying the ECQ should also depend on whether or not the country”s testing capacity nationwide could reach from 15,000 to 20,000 per day.

Go said he favors extending the ECQ in the National Capital Region beyond April 30 due to the increasing cases of COVID-19 here.

Go said additional data can now be obtained from cities with the country’s testing capacity increased.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he expects that the ECQ could be extended while areas that do not have any transmission of the disease can be placed under a modified community quarantine.

“Lifting the lockdown in certain areas with low or no transmission will allow people to work, earn and provide for their families. That will help in restarting our economy,” he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said an extension of the ECQ would be possible if mass testing would not be implemented immediately.

https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/322080/d-day-on-lockdown-april-23.html

Extended NCR lockdown eyed

By JEFFREY DAMICOG

An adviser of the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 yesterday called on the government to consider extending the community quarantine in Metro Manila which remains the country’s epicenter of the dreaded coronavirus disease.

Dr. Tony Leachon made the suggestion as the as the government is set to end the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine on April 30.

“I would recommend extension in Metro Manila and National Capital Region, May 1 to 15, basically to increase the health care capacity, the testing centers, procure more test kits, improve the hospital facilities and see the figures go down,” he said during an interview over CNN Philippines.

The doctor reminded that NCR remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 cases in the country.

“Eighty percent of the cases are in the National Capital Region,” Leachon cited.

On the other hand, Leachon suggested a modified implementation of the ECQ over the entire Luzon.

“There can be a modified ECQ in Luzon and other areas because there are certain areas with increasing rates like Calabarzon and Pampanga and Bulacan,” he noted.

The adviser warned if restrictions are lifted too soon there would be a resurgence of the COVID-19 cases.

“Any plans to extend the quarantine restriction should be carried out gradually in a phase manner to prevent resurgence of infection particularly during the rainy season in June,” Leachon said.

The doctor cited that there is already a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Japan following the relaxation of boarder controls.

http://tempo.com.ph/2020/04/22/extended-ncr-lockdown-eyed/

Metro Manila lockdown extension seen

Metro Manilans may have to stay home longer after April 30, as the number of new coronavirus infections keeps rising with only 10 days left before the extended Luzon lockdown ends.

President Rodrigo Duterte decides this week whether to extend the lockdown or reduce its enforcement to parts of the island with large numbers of coronavirus infections, his spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.

Several senators supported a proposed “selective quarantine,” but stressed the need for restarting the economy.

Lift it in the provinces

But Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s former longtime aide who is now chief of the Senate health committee, said he was more inclined to recommend the extension of the lockdown in Metro Manila because of the continuing increase in the number of fresh infections in the metropolis.

Go, however, echoed the view of some of his Senate colleagues on easing the restrictions in parts of Luzon with fewer coronavirus cases.

“As a senator, I’m in favor of extending the [lockdown] in the [National Capital Region] because of the increasing [coronavirus] cases. We really have to contain [the rate of transmission] because our health-care system may not be enough if this worsened,” Go said in a video message.

“In other provinces, it could be lifted and converted to a modified community quarantine. What’s important is to make sure that Filipinos will be able to eat [regularly] because that’s the reason why they are going outside their homes,” Go said.

Mr. Duterte’s decision would be based on the recommendations of health experts and former heads of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, with whom he was meeting on Monday, Roque said.

He said the task force was also meeting to draft recommendations to the President on public health measures and possible loosening of quarantine restrictions to allow a phased resumption of economic activity after April 30.

Mr. Duterte is expected to make a decision this week, Roque said.

Balanced decision

That decision would balance the state’s duty to protect public health and the citizens’ right to make a living, he added.

Like most governments across the globe, the Duterte administration is under pressure to restart the economy to arrest a slide to recession. Businessmen have recommended phased reopenings, starting with manufacturing and its supply chains and essential services to breathe life back into the economy while the government cleans up the viral mess through mass testing.

A full-blown return to economic activity, which includes restarting public transportation, depends on the speed by which the government suppresses the spread of the virus.

Presenting a graph during his virtual press briefing, Roque claimed a slight decrease in coronavirus infections after his call to the public last week to stay at home to help halt the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19.

The DOH has been reporting increasing recoveries from the disease since last week. But the infections and deaths were seesawing and Monday’s figures were again worrying. The DOH reported 19 new deaths, seven more than the 12 deaths on Sunday and bringing the toll to 428.

It also reported 200 additional infections, 28 more than on Sunday and pushing the total to 6,459. Only 41 patients recovered, 15 fewer than the 56 reported on Sunday. That, however, raised the number of survivors to 613, still greater than the death toll.

Modification

If the fall in infections becomes sustained, Duterte may modify the lockdown to limit the strict measures to localities with high numbers of infections, Roque said.

That means a review after a certain period to see how the country is tracking.

For Roque, however, another extension is insurance against a resurgence of the virus, although that will prolong the economic plight of the citizens. He noted that the government had been able to extend economic assistance only to impoverished families.

“Whatever [the President’s] decision is, we need to prepare for its implementation,” Roque said. “We expect that the recommendations of the experts and the [task force] will be finished this week so that the President can make his choice,” he added.

Several senators on Monday expressed support for the proposal of a phased reopening of the economy. 

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the government should produce a risk assessment and action plan to determine the economic impact of extending the lockdown beyond April 30.

“While we value the primacy of life and public health, it cannot be denied that the country’s economy should not be ignored,” Lacson said in a Viber message.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros reiterated her call for mass testing, particularly for sectors of the population most vulnerable to infection.

Senators Francis Pangilinan, Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva agreed with Lacson, underscoring the importance of a postlockdown plan for moving the economy.

Pangilinan said the lockdown “should be extended, but certain essential services should be allowed to begin to operate.”

“But that requires more testing as we prepare for that calibrated lifting,” he added.

Villanueva said an extended economic shutdown would be hard to sustain as he cited a study done by experts from the University of the Philippines that showed certain areas in Luzon were not in danger of high numbers of coronavirus infections.

Safety measures

“We should lift the in these areas with the caveat that social distancing, proper wearing of masks and hand-washing are strictly practiced,” Villanueva said.

“I would also recommend that we balance economic and public health interests. We can start operating some industries that are big economic contributors like construction and manufacturing,” he added.

Gatchalian said small businesses such as beauty salons and barbershops may be reopened while allowing the partial operation of public transportation, including tricycles, jeepneys and buses. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said allowing businesses in areas with low numbers of coronavirus infections would “allow people to work, earn and provide for their families.” That, he said, “will help in restarting our economy.”

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1261987/metro-lockdown-extension-seen

DPWH to fast-track rollout of projects after lockdown

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing plans to “fast-track” the rollout of projects under its infrastructure pipeline that had stalled due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Secretary Mark Villar said on Friday.

Construction of big-ticket projects under the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative was put on hold since the government last March 17 imposed an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to control the spread of COVID-19.

Villar said in a virtual briefing via state-run PTV that construction would continue after the lifting of the lockdown, targeted by April 30.

“While in quarantine we are preparing for the comeback of our infrastructure projects,” Villar said as he acknowledged that projects were now delayed by around one and a half months.

He said new guidelines would also outline safeguards to protect the health of construction workers as efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 continue.

Some P30 billion in funds reallocated from its “Build, Build, Build” program to aid in the government’s COVID-19 response have yet to be deployed, Villar said during the interview.

“We’re ready should the government need additional [COVID-19] funds,” Villar said. He added that the DPWH has yet to identify nonpriority projects that could be cut from the current infrastructure budget.

Big-ticket items slated for completion this year are comprised of public and private-sector projects.

These include the 18.3-kilometer Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 that will reduce travel time between the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway to about 20 minutes from more than two hours. The tollroad, backed by conglomerate San Miguel Corp., suffered a mishap last January after a section of the expressway collapsed as a result of heavy damage from a fire in Pandacan.

Other projects due for completion this year are the NLEx Harbor Link, the Mindanao Avenue Extension Segment 2C and the Laguna Lake Highway.

https://business.inquirer.net/295046/dpwh-to-fast-track-rollout-of-projects-after-lockdown

Build, Build, Build rail projects get IATF greenlight to proceed despite lockdown: Tugade

Construction will resume for the government's flagship railway projects despite lockdowns in the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on Wednesday.

Tugade said that the government body tasked to implement the enhanced community quarantine agreed to exempt railway projects under the government's Build, Build, Build program.

"Pinayagan po kami ng IATF na mag-umpisa magtrabaho ng 13 rail projects," Tugade said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.

(We were allowed by the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases] to restart work on the 13 rail projects.)

Among the projects that will resume construction are the LRT-1 Cavite extension, LRT-2 East extension, MRT-3 rehabilitation, PNR Clark 1 and Clark 2, the Subic-Clark railway, PNR Calamba-Bicol, the Mindanao railway, and the Mega Manila Subway.

Tugade said the DOTr has resumed replacing the rails of the MRT-3 on Monday.

The transport chief acknowledged though that for now, they can only do "mitigation measures" and will wait for the lifting of the lockdown for construction to resume at full blast.

"'Pag nawala na ho 'yung quarantine period, mayroon po kaming catch up plan nang sa ganun maabutan," Tugade said.

(When the quarantine period ends, we have a catch up plan so that work is not delayed.)

The government will push forward with its flagship infrastructure projects despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

But Tugade also acknowledged that some infrastructure projects will be affected as the government diverts funds to fight COVID-19.

Some airport, sea port and terminal projects may be postponed or delayed, he said.

Infrastructure deemed as flagship projects, however, will continue.

"Ang sinasabi po namin 'yung mga flagship priority projects, tuloy tuloy, uusad at tatrabahuhin pa rin ho natin."

(What we're saying is that the flagship priority projects will continue, will move forward at we will still work on them.)

Tugade said the contractors will also implement physical distancing and hygiene measures for their workforces when construction resumes.

The lockdown in Luzon will remain in effect until at least April 30. It was extended from the original end date of April 12 to effectively curb the spread of the disease that has infected over 5,400 in the country.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/15/20/build-build-build-rail-projects-get-iatf-greenlight-to-proceed-despite-lockdown-tugade

Construction recovery from lockdown may take 1-2 months: Megawide

(UPDATE) Construction in the Philippines will take 1 to 2 months to fully recover from the coronavirus lockdown that shut most businesses and required people to stay at home, builder Megawide said Tuesday.

It will take time for laborers from the provinces to return, while logistical issues over materials and supplies will likely persist, said Megawide chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra.

"We expect a reduction in productivity because of the stringent health and safety guidelines," Saavedra told ANC.

Saavedra said the faster rollout of government-funded infrastructure projects could help stimulate the economy.

Three major railway projects in Luzon are worth around P1 trillion: the North and the South Luzon railway projects and the Mega Manila Subway, he said.

Private sector projects, especially in real estate, will depend on the country's employment situation after the lockdown, he said. There is still a lot of uncertainty on when people will be able to get back to to work, he said.

"The earlier that they can get back their jobs the earlier we (construction industry) can recover."

Megawide's clients, such as 8990, Double Dragon and Megaworld, however told the construction firm to proceed and complete the construction of their projects, he said.

The company has paused construction on 34 projects in Metro Manila and Cebu because of the lockdown, he said.

Megawide is ready to turn over the new Clark International Airport terminal to the government once the lockdown is lifted, he said, adding 96 percent of the facility is finished.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/14/20/construction-recovery-from-lockdown-may-take-1-2-months-megawide

IATF-EID allows limited work in 13 rail projects: Palace

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed the resumption of limited work in 13 rail projects amid the imposition of Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.

“The IATF approves the request of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to allow the resumption of utility relocation works and resume specified limited works across 13 rail projects,” Nograles, spokesperson of IATF-EID, said in a virtual press briefing aired on state-run PTV-4.

Nograles said the IATF-EID is also allowing the rail replacement works for Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 when the rail system is not undergoing passenger operations.

Aside from MRT-3 rehabilitation, Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said other projects that will resume limited works are Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) Cavite Extension, LRT-2 East Extension, LRT-2 West Extension, LRT-2 Fire Restoration, MRT-7, Metro Manila Subway, MRT-LRT Common Station in North Avenue in Quezon City, Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark 1, PNR Clark 2 and Calamba, Subic-Clark Railway, PNR Bicol, and the Mindanao Railway.

He said the DOTr should observe limited mobilization of personnel and skeletal staffing pattern.

He added that “on- or near-site” accommodations and point-to-point shuttle services should be provided to workers.

Nograles said regular disinfection of workplaces, shuttles, and accommodations should also be done.

He stressed that the IATF-EID also advised the regular monitoring of health of workers, especially those who are exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19.

He said “strict” social distancing measures and proper hand hygiene must likewise be observed.

“All other precautionary measures that the DOTr may implement (must be) observed at all times,” Nograles said.

The entire Luzon was initially placed under enhanced community quarantine until April 12.

Duterte said he is inclined to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon until April 30 to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The Philippines has so far 3,660 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 163 fatalities and 73 recoveries.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099045

Iloilo City extends lockdown to April 30, others keep open-ended policy

ILOILO City is extending its lockdown to April 30 following confirmed local transmission cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas announced late Tuesday that he will be signing the executive order on the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures on Wednesday.

Mr. Treñas said the decision was made in consultation with health authorities, business sector representatives as well as Iloilo Provincial Governor Arthur R. Defensor Jr.

The city is administratively independent from Iloilo province.

“After due consultation with our focal person, DoH (Department of Health), medical doctors, City Health Office, some businessmen, and in due coordination with Governor Art ‘Toto’ Defensor, I will be extending the declaration of an Enhanced Community Quarantine in the City of Iloilo up to April 30 at 11:59pm,” he said.

The lockdown took effect March 20 and was originally scheduled to end April 14.

Mr. Treñas noted that the DoH has confirmed local transmission with the 4th and most recent COVID-19 patient linked to the second.

“Local transmission as defined by the World Health Organization indicates that the source of infection is within the reporting location,” Dr. Mary Ann Sta. Lucia of the DoH Western Visayas regional office explained.

As of April 7, the region had 36 confirmed cases, including four in Iloilo City and 13 in Iloilo province.

The others are in: Bacolod City, 7; Aklan, 6; Capiz, 4; and one each in Antique, and Negros Occidental. Only the island province of Guimaras remains free from COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, Mr. Treñas said they are planning to convert the Iloilo City Convention Center (ICON) into an isolation area in anticipation of an increase in the number of persons under monitoring (PUMs).

“We are looking at the ICON, maybe we’ll need it as our isolation center when we see our PUMs increase,” he said.

The Jubilee Hall along General Luna Street has been designated as the city’s isolation facility, currently housing 10 persons under investigation (PUIs) and one PUM.

“We are already anticipating the increase in PUMs as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is also expected to rise,” the mayor said.

OTHER VISAYAS REGIONS

Other key areas outside the northern island of Luzon, where the ECQ has been extended to April 30, are mostly maintaining an indefinite lockdown policy.

Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia of Cebu in Central Visayas said on Tuesday that her lockdown order, which took effect March 30, intentionally did not have an end-date “so as to avoid giving false hopes to the Cebuanos.”

The ECQ measures have also been adopted by the independent cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue.

“It’s very early to lift the ECQ… I cannot even be cautiously optimistic about the results… A lot also depend on how the Manila situation would develop. We are all connected. We really hope and pray that the Luzon situation will soon improve and flatten the curve because unless that is achieved, we cannot hope to even estimate a date when our own ECQ would be lifted,” she said.

In Tacloban City, the regional center of Eastern Visayas, Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez said during a Tuesday briefing that an extension of the ECQ, due to end April 13, is “possible.”

MINDANAO

In Mindanao, Zamboanga City’s guidelines, which indicates a lockdown “until the health menace subsides,” remains in place.

In a statement Wednesday following a meeting of Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar with the city’s health team, the local government said, “Health professionals in the city are recommending the continuation of the strict observance of the enhanced community quarantine.”

Davao City, along with the rest of Davao Region, has an ECQ in effect until April 19, but Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Tuesday that there is a “possibility that the city will be placed under an extreme Enhanced Community Quarantine (EECQ)” by the 20th.

“We are now planning on what will happen to Davao City and Davao Region after April 19,” Ms. Carpio said, “We are planning two things – one is Extreme Enhanced Community Quarantine or we go back to the ordinary community quarantine.”

She said the decision will “depend on the outcome of the 14-day ECQ” in terms of the number of COVID-19 patients along with the PUIs and PUMs.

Davao City currently has the highest number of positive patients outside the capital, including several local transmission cases due in part to a series of cockfighting events in March.

Cagayan de Oro City, the regional center of Northern Mindanao, has been under the less stringent community quarantine policy since March 20, but Mayor Oscar S. Moreno has been issuing specific restrictions on businesses and physical distancing measures.

A community quarantine does not have a blanket ban on both private and public transportation.

The mayor’s orders are on open-ended implementation.

In an April 5 reply letter to calls for an ECQ in Cagayan de Oro, including appeals from the medical community, Mr. Moreno defended his position by citing guidelines from the national Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

The Northern Mindanao Region as of April 7 had six COVID-19 cases, with two from Iligan City and one each in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Camiguin.

“We hope that we will prevail over the virus without having a lockdown, the repercussions of which would bring serious irreparable damage. I want to emphasize, however, that we are committed to save lives. This is non-negotiable,” Mr. Moreno said in the letter.

“Cagayan de Oro is the host of the region’s hospital for COVID-19 patients. This is a responsibility that we have to live and deal with. Avoiding this duty will cause more harm to everybody.” — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo and Marifi S. Jara

https://www.bworldonline.com/iloilo-city-extends-lockdown-to-april-30-others-keep-open-ended-policy/

Gov't to restart infrastructure work amid lengthened Luzon quarantine

Public rail infrastructures have secured approval to restart “limited works” during the Luzon-wide community quarantine next week, providing a necessary boost to lagging economic activity as the Duterte government vowed to proceed with its infrastructure agenda.

The approval, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said, was granted by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases overseeing the government’s response to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Sought for details, Transport Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said in a text message 13 rail projects “may begin at different times next week,” led by the aid-funded P227-billion Metro Manila Subway Project.

The rehabilitation and upgrade of existing Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2 will also resume, including that which extends to Cavite. The construction of a common station for the LRT lines and Metro Rail Transit 3 in Quezon City was also covered by the approval.

Similarly, resumption of work on the Japan-funded rehabilitation of MRT-3 running along EDSA, as well as the MRT-7, financed by San Miguel Corp., along Commonwealth Avenue, was also green-lighted.

Outside Metro Manila, groundwork can also proceed for the P82.9-billion Mindanao Railway project that would cross Davao, where a lockdown just started on Saturday. The Subic-Clark Railway, and components of the 148-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway traversing Clark to Calamba in Laguna, will also continue.

IATF’s quarantine exemption on infrastructure work came just as the government extended the Luzon-wide lockdown to April 30 from its original expiration on April 12. Economic managers wanted the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program to continue, as they bank on a capital outlay boost to save the economy from an expected downturn due to the epidemic.

While infrastructure building will resume, Nograles said it would do so under conditions of “limited mobilization” and skeletal workforce, a mechanism that allows social distancing to be practiced to avoid the virus contagion.

Contractors are also required to provide accommodations to their workers near or on site, while regular disinfection of work areas and health monitoring for their personnel should also be undertaken.

Sought for comment, Ibarra Paulino, executive director of the Philippine Constructors Association, an industry group that claims to corner around 80% of state projects, supported the government’s decision to proceed with its building program.

“This is the right time for them to do maintenance and improvement of the rails, (but) protocols on safety of workers [such as] safe distancing…should strictly be followed,” Paulino told Philstar.com in a phone interview.

He went as far as suggesting that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) do the same for some road projects while most people are indoors, such as the long-overdue rehabilitation of EDSA thoroughfare. DPWH officials could not be reached for comment.

“On the part of government, I think they need to move too because a lot of people are affected without livelihoods and government workers who don’t have jobs. So we think that’s one thing they can do for now,” Paulino said.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/04/07/2006093/govt-restart-infrastructure-work-amid-lengthened-luzon-quarantine

Masses in Diocese of Cubao remain suspended until April 30

The Diocese of Cubao has extended the suspension of holding of public masses until the end of the month.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said the measure is in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte's approval of the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon until April 30 amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Yes, we will follow the government's extension of quarantine. We seek for the good of all,” he said in a message.

Meanwhile, Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said they will discuss on Wednesday the extension of suspension of masses in the archdiocese.

At the same time, he urged the government to fast-track its efforts in providing assistance to the people especially the less fortunate.

“We follow the government on quarantine protocols but we ask that the government should speed up providing help to the poor and the daily wage earners. We in the church continue to provide for the people spiritual and material help,” he added.

Church activities in Luzon have been suspended in connection with the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Online masses through social media accounts of different churches in Metro Manila are being held every day where the faithful are encouraged to participate.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099133

IATF approves resumption of railroad projects, MRT3 maintenance work amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the resumption of railroad projects and maintenance work for Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 even amid the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said this move is in response to the request made by the Department of Transportation to allow the resumption of utility relocation work and specified limited work across 13 rail projects, including rail replacement work for MRT3 which can only be done when MRT3 is not undergoing passenger operations.

Apart from the MRT3 rehabilitation and maintenance works, other rail projects to resume are the following:

• LRT 1 Cavite Extension
• LRT 2 East Extension
• LRT 2 West Extension
• MRT 7
• Metro Manila Subway
• Common Station
• PNR Clark 1
• PNR Clark 2 and Calamba
• Subic-Clark Railway
• PNR Bicol
• Mindanao Railway

The enhanced community quarantine has banned mass transportation since March 17, and the said COVID-19 quarantine period has since been extended to April 30.

The resumption of the rail work, however, is based on the following preconditions:

• limited mobilization of personnel and skeletal staffing pattern is observed;
• on- or near-site accommodations and/or point-to-point shuttle services are provided, where applicable; 
• regular disinfection of workplaces, shuttles, and accommodations;
• regular monitoring of personnel’s health, especially for COVID-19 symptoms;
• strict social distancing measures and proper hand hygiene; and 
• all other precautionary measures that the DOTr may implement are observed at all times.

As of 4 p.m. of April 6, the Philippines has already recorded 3,660 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 163 have died while 73 others recovered. —With a report from Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/732954/iatf-approves-resumption-of-railroad-projects-mrt3-maintenance-work-amid-covid-19-pandemic/story/

Megawide confident of completing new Clark passenger terminal

Despite the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, engineering and infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Construction Corp. is optimistic that it will be able to complete and deliver on schedule the new passenger terminal in Clark that will help decongest Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Megawide, together with its partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India, is actually ahead of schedule in constructing the Clark International Airport’s new passenger terminal building prior to the imposition of the community quarantine in Luzon, Megawide chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra said.

“That we were ahead of schedule in the construction of the new Clark passenger terminal building is a testament to all the hard work and dedication of the people on the ground such as our engineering and construction teams,” he said.

Saavedra said construction of the new terminal, access roads, bus station, and car parks is 96 percent complete with only minor works remaining.

He said the new terminal building shell has been substantially completed, and installation of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire-protection works as well as construction of the landside works are already in the final stages.

“The ECQ has minimal impact on our construction timelines for Clark International Airport primarily because engineering and construction are Megawide’s core strengths and the fact that we leveraged on what we learned from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) expansion,” he said.

Saavedra said Megawide is confident that the construction project may still be turned over to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority before the July 31 completion date should the lockdown end as scheduled on April 14.

The Clark International Airport’s new terminal is designed to increase the capacity of the airport from four million to 12 million passengers per annum.

Its construction is being undertaken by Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture Inc., which won the expansion project in December 2017 by submitting the lowest bid at P9.36 billion under a hybrid public-private partnership scheme.

Megawide and Indian airport developer GMR are also behind the development of the MCIA and the contractor of the multi-awarded MCIA Terminal 2.

“We learned a lot during the construction of MCIA Terminal 2. We applied all these learnings in the Clark project, including engineering techniques such as the use of glued-laminated timber for a full roof structure, and many others,” Saavedra said.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/04/07/2005891/megawide-confident-completing-new-clark-passenger-terminal

Gov’t set to announce decision on Luzon lockdown

THE government was expected to announce its decision by late Monday on whether it would extend a Luzon-wide lockdown to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

A task force made up of Cabinet officials was still assessing the health crisis, its spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles told a news briefing on Monday morning.

A technical working group headed by the Department of Health was still studying data on COVID-19 cases, he added.

“You can be assured that in deciding the matter, the Inter-Agency Task Force and President Rodrigo R. Duterte will consider what the experts say,” Mr. Nograles said in Filipino.

“The President is seriously evaluating the inputs and suggestions given by various sectors of society for either the extension or the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine or lockdown,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in an e-mailed reply to a pool of questions.

Mr. Duterte will “take the best option that will purge us of this pandemic,” he said.

Mr. Nograles said at the weekend the task force would probably announce its recommendations to Mr. Duterte by April 6.

The technical working group is composed of officials from the National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Department of Science and Technology and experts from the academe, health, economic and security sectors.

Cebu Rep. Rodrigo A. Abellanosa in a statement said the government should stagger the lifting of the so-called enhanced community quarantine for Luzon and enforce localized quarantines.

He said lockdown may be imposed per village or clusters of villages and by employment communities such as construction, food production, food processing, manufacturing, call centers, building maintenance and the like.

Mr. Abellanosa said food deliveries and public transportation may be allowed to operate but only within the local quarantines.

Authorities can persuade supermarkets, big grocery stores and food wholesalers to hire out-of-work drivers, cashiers and baggers. Standby jeepneys, trucks and buses may also be hired to set up mobile stores, while law enforcers must “actively discourage” residents from going out of their local quarantines. — Gillian M. Cortez and Genshen L. Espedido

https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-set-to-announce-decision-on-luzon-lockdown/

Gov’t eyes extending lockdown to April 30

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos

President Duterte said the government was inclined to extend the Luzon-wide partial lockdown or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until April 30 as the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duterte made the statement in his late-night public address Monday, six days before the ECQ ends on Easter Sunday.

In his hour-long address, Duterte told the public that the ECQ may be extended until the end of the month.

“If you really want to know, we have discussed it actually even before this, we are inclined to extend the lockdown up to April 30. Tingnan natin after that (We’ll see after that),” he said.

“In the meantime, mag double-time kami sa tinatawag niyong (we’ll go over the proposal for the) middle class,” he added, referring to Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla’s appeal to include the middle-income earners in the government’s social amelioration program.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Duterte was seriously evaluating recommendations before making his decision on the ECQ soon.

“The President is seriously evaluating the inputs and suggestions given by various sectors of society for either the extension or the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine or lockdown, and will take the best option that will purge us of this pandemic disease. He will announce his decision very soon,” he said.

He said Duterte was appealing to the public to take the COVID-19 situation seriously and follow the protocols set by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“They were placed there for the protection and survival of everyone. Any transgressor will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Panelo said.

Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles said lifting, extending, or expanding the Luzon-wide ECQ will not be an easy decision to make as there were a lot of factors to be considered.

He, however, acknowledged that it was important to make a decision soon.

“We have to make a decision and we have to make it as soon as possible,” he said Monday.

“It will not be an easy decision, napakahirap po, it’s very, very difficult, only because ang daming factors na kailangan namin tingnan: kapakanan ng taumbayan, ang (there are a lot of factors that we need to look at: the welfare of the public, the) health, economic, social, security, medical,” he added.

Nograles earlier said an IATF sub-technical working group headed by the Department of Health (DOH) was directed to convene all concerned agencies and to finalize the aggregation and analysis of all relevant data applicable to the contained area.

The parameters adopted by the IATF for deciding on the total or partial lifting or the possible extension or expansion of the ECQ are:

1. Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, which include, among others, the doubling time, acceleration, or deceleration of new cases;
2. Capacity of the health care system, which includes, among others, the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities; capability to mount contact tracing; availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for frontliners; and the testing capacity of the country;
3. Social factors;
4. Economic factors; and
5. Security factors.

Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine until April 12 due to the threat of COVID-19. To date, the country has reported 3,660 COVID-19 cases, 73 of whom have recovered while 163 died.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/04/06/govt-eyes-extending-lockdown-to-april-30/

Duterte ‘inclined’ to extend Luzon-wide quarantine until April 30

The Duterte administration is inclined to extend the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine until April 30 as the government continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised address on Monday.

“If you really want to know, we have discussed it actually even before this, we are inclined to extend the lockdown up to April 30,” Duterte said.

The Luzon-wide quarantine was originally targeted to be lifted by April 14.

The Philippines has so far recorded 3,660 cases of COVID-19 and 163 fatalities.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1254850/break-duterte-inclined-to-extend-luzon-wide-quarantine-until-april-30

Rizal province under lockdown amid growing number of coronavirus cases

Non-residents of Rizal can no longer enter the province except for those exempted by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease

Rizal province was placed under lockdown starting Monday, April 6, a necessary move amid its “growing number” of coronavirus cases.

Acting Rizal Governor Reynaldo San Juan Jr signed Executive Order 14 on Saturday, April 4.

The EO said that, as of March 29, Rizal had recorded 58 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. It had resulted in 8 deaths. As of April 5, the health department's tracker recorded 105 cases in Rizal.

Cainta has 25 recorded COVID-19 cases, the most among the province’s 8 cities and towns. Antipolo has 17 cases, followed by Taytay with 9.

The Rizal Mayors’ League “unanimously passed a resolution” recommending that the entire province be placed under lockdown. The lockdown began at 8 am Monday and will be in effect “until otherwise lifted.”

“This is to further protect the whole province from entering possible carriers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” the provincial government said in a Facebook post where it announced the lockdown.

Rizal implements its own lockdown on the final week of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte from March 16 to April 12 to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 is still deliberating whether or not to extend the Luzon lockdown.

As of Monday, the COVID-19 cases in the country has soared to 3,660, with 163 deaths, and 73 recoveries, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Under Rizal’s lockdown rules, non-residents of the province can no longer enter the province except for those exempted by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) including “public and private health workers, emergency frontliners, government workers, diplomats, media personnel, religious ministers as well as employees who are part of the skeletal workforce of various businesses related to basic services and commodities as well as BPO and hotel industry.”

Cargo trucks and vehicles transporting food commodities and farm inputs to designated food lanes are still allowed to go inside and out of the province.

The EO directs the establishment of 24/7 checkpoints to enforce the border restriction, following the guidelines of the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shied).

The EO has strict reminders that “human rights shall be respected and protected at all times in the operations of the checkpoints.”

It also reminded all personnel at the checkpoint to observe physical distancing and wear personal protective equipment (PPEs).

The EO also suspended all forms of public transportation, but called on the cities and towns to provide vehicles for medical frontliners and health workers.

An express lane for those who need medical attention as well as for donations for frontliners and hospitals from donors will be set up.

The provincial government called on Rizal’s residents to stay at home as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had imposed a 24-hour curfew, except for family members with quarantine passes to buy food and other essential commodities.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/257177-rizal-province-lockdown-coronavirus-april-2020

Solons call for ‘staggered lifting’ of lockdown, ECQ extension

While two congressmen backed the extension of the Luzon-wide community quarantine, a lawmaker from Cebu is appealing for a “staggered lifting” of the lockdown aimed to contain the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement on Monday, Cebu City 2nd District Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa said the country’s COVID-19 inter-agency task force should employ a staggered lifting of the enhanced community quarantine by implementing localized quarantines instead.

“This Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has brought together the clashing issues on controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the resultant massive unemployment, public health and nutrition consequences, and the inadequacies of the government to feed millions of people,” Abellanosa said.

He said his proposal would offer a “partial win-win solution.”

“Instead of bugging ourselves with the issue on whether to lift or not to lift the ECQ, may I propose a staggered lifting of ECQ by concurrently transforming it into localized lockdowns or local quarantines – by barangays or clusters of puroks or sitios; and by employment communities such as construction, food production, food processing, manufacturing, call centers, building maintenance, and the like,” he explained.

Further, the lawmaker proposed that food deliveries and public transportation be allowed to operate but only within the local quarantines.

Proper authorities must persuade supermarkets, big grocery stores, and food wholesalers to hire out-of-work drivers, cashiers, and baggers and to lease standby jeepneys, trucks, and buses to set up mobile stores in local quarantines, he added.

He said this would minimize the confusion and problems arising from the issuance of quarantine passes for people to access stores outside of the local quarantines.

Abellanosa said police and law enforcers must actively discourage residents from going out of their local quarantines in order to effectively contain and isolate the local quarantines from each other except for health and medical reasons and the delivery of government aids but also ensure the unhampered movement of all food and non-food cargoes.

“We understand the public health and safety is the foremost concern of the government. But we need to come up with more creative solutions to containing this disease while ensuring that our people continue to have access to and afford basic necessities,” Abellanosa said.

Extend ECQ

Meanwhile, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said the government “must seriously consider the urgency of conducting mass testing for COVID-19 infection in its decision whether or not to extend the lockdown policy in the National Capital Region (NCR), the rest of Luzon, and elsewhere in the country.”

“It would be extremely difficult to implement initial selective and subsequent comprehensive mass testing in a dispersed and mobile population,” Lagman said in a separate statement.

“The projected start of mass testing after the lockdown expiration will be counter-productive,” he added.

According to Lagman, the remaining days before the scheduled lifting of the enhanced community quarantine would “not be sufficient” to “adequately conduct mass testing even for selected cases of persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs).”

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continues to increase.

The quarantine became effective on March 17 and will be lifted on April 13.

“Stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus is very complicated and cannot be answered by isolation and social distancing alone because so many COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic,” Lagman said.

“These patients can unknowingly be virus hotbeds and contribute to the more rapid spread of the disease, thus making mass testing more crucial,” he added.

He, however, stressed that “any extension must be coupled with continued social amelioration packages for the disadvantaged sectors and displaced workers as well as a steady food supply.”

House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. also joined calls to extend the enhanced community quarantine.

“I concur with my good friend and colleague, Rep. Salceda when he says we should look at the data and heed the input of our scientists and medical professionals,” said the lawmaker. 

Abante was referring to Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, who wanted to extend the quarantine for another two weeks, noting that a “premature lifting of the ECQ would not be good for the economy.”

Abante said that “whatever decisions we make regarding this outbreak should factor in the numbers and should take into consideration the experiences of other nations that have grappled with this pandemic.”

“Containing this outbreak should be our number one priority, and data from all over the world shows that measures such as the ECQ are effecting in reducing the transmission of the virus. So let us continue doing this until the data shows it is safe for us to live the ECQ,” he said.

The lawmaker further urged the government to step up the distribution of subsidies to underprivileged families “in order to ensure that no one goes hungry while they are forced by circumstances to stay indoors.”

To date, Philippine health officials have confirmed 3,660 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Of the number, 163 have died while 73 have recovered.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1254789/solons-on-staggered-lifting-of-lockdown-ecq-extension

Bigger Clark airport terminal 96% finished —Megawide

The construction of Clark International Airport’s new passenger terminal building is on track despite the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, according to project builder Megawide Construction Corp.

“Construction of the new terminal, access roads, bus station and car parks is 96-percent complete with only minor works remaining. Despite any challenges we are facing, we were actually ahead of schedule before the ECQ was implemented in Luzon,” Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said.

Saavedra said the new terminal building shell was substantially completed while the installation of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection works and the construction of the landside works were in the final stages.

Construction of the new Clark Airport PTB is being undertaken by Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture Inc.

MGCJV won the construction package of the Clark International Airport expansion project in December 2017 by submitting the lowest bid of P9.36 billion under a hybrid public-private partnership scheme.

Saavedra said Megawide is confident the project would be turned over to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority before the July 31, 2020 completion date if the lockdown was lifted on April 14.

“The ECQ has minimal impact on our construction timelines for Clark International Airport primarily because engineering and construction are Megawide’s core strengths and the fact that we leveraged on what we learned from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport expansion,” he said.

The partnership of Megawide and Indian airport developer GMR is also behind the development of the MCIA and the contractor of the multi-awarded MCIA Terminal 2.

“We learned a lot during the construction of MCIA Terminal 2. We applied all these learnings in the Clark project, including engineering techniques such as the use of glued-laminated timber for a full roof structure, and many others,” Saavedra said.

“That we were ahead of schedule in the construction of the new Clark PTB is a testament to the all the hard work and dedication of the people on the ground such as our engineering and construction teams; our architect, Integrated Design Associates, who also designed MCIA Terminal 2; and the support of our stakeholders, especially the BCDA and DOTR,” he said.

The new terminal is designed to increase the capacity of the airport from 4 million passengers to 12 million passengers a year.

https://manilastandard.net/business/transport-tourism/321189/bigger-clark-airport-terminal-96-finished-megawide.html

PNP gears up for imminent extension of Luzon-wide quarantine

Even if the government has yet to decide on the extension or expansion of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday it is already preparing for such a probability.

According to PNP, among its preparations is the creation of the PNP Administrative Support to COVID-19 Operations Task Force (ASTF), which will ensure the “efficient” delivery of administrative support for the ongoing operations of Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa has designated Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan as the task force commander with Directorial Staff chief Maj. Gen. Cesar Binag as assistant task force commander.

In a statement, Gamboa said the establishment of ASTF is in “preparation for a possible extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon, and management of local health emergencies in other areas.”

“We are preparing our optimum and efficient management, distribution and utilization of resources and supply chain for the long haul,” he also said in a statement.

Officials from the eight PNP Directorial Staff offices were designated as members of the task force to oversee administrative requirements within the functional field of their respective directorates.

The officials will compose the five functional task groups under ASTF, which are the following:

• Task Group Personnel Support: to supervise deployment, reserve forces, and legal support
• Task Group Logistical Support: to oversee requirements for transportation, PPE, decontamination facilities, food supply, communication requirements, and test kits
• Task Group Financial Support: to ensure timely provision of financial support to implement activities of ASTF in support of Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield
• Task Group Health Management and Medical Reserve Force: to address health-related issues in the operations of Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield and provide real-time monitoring of the status of PNP personnel affected by COVID-19
• Task Group Contact Tracing: to ensure timely and efficient contact tracing of PNP personnel confirmed or suspected to be infected

Among the administrative actions earlier implemented by PNP were adjustments in the deployment of personnel to frontline operations to protect families of PNP personnel, processing hazard pay to police frontliners, and a 30-day suspension of loan payments by PNP personnel to accredited private financial institutions and lending houses.

President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the whole of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine until midnight of April 13 to contain the transmission of COVID-19, a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which outbreak started in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province in China late last year.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1254767/pnp-gears-up-for-imminent-extension-of-luzon-wide-quarantine

COVID-19 forces cancellation of Araw ng Kagitingan rites

The government has cancelled this year’s celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and other events for Philippine Veterans’ Week as COVID-19 continued to menace countries around the world, including the Philippines.

The events would be rescheduled after the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine now in place in the whole Luzon island, according to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office in an advisory on Monday (April 6).

The Araw ng Kagitingan was scheduled on April 9 while the Philippine Veterans Week was set on April 3 to 7.

The decision was made “in line with the enhanced community quararntine and to ensure the safety of our veterans from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

But the PVAO urged the public to continue observing Araw ng Kagitingan, a national holiday, to pay tribute to Filipino and American heroes of Bataan province, where US and Philippine soldiers took their last stand against invading Japanese Imperial Army forces during World War II.

Veterans of the Second World War could be considered among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 as the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions had been found to have the highest infection and mortality rate among those infected by the virus that causes the disease.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1254692/covid-19-forces-cancellation-of-araw-ng-kagitingan-rites

New terminal at Clark airport seen completed by end of June

The construction of Clark International Airport's new passenger terminal building (PTB) is scheduled to be completed by the end of June even with the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) placed over Luzon.

According to private concessionaire Megawide Construction Corp., it is confident that the construction project may be turned over to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) by July 31, 2020, should the lockdown end as scheduled on June 30.

"The ECQ has minimal impact on our construction timelines for Clark International Airport primarily because engineering and construction are Megawide’s core strengths and the fact that we leveraged on what we learned from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) expansion," Megawide chairman and chief executive officer Edgar Saavedra said in an emailed statement.

He was referring to the ECQ placed over Luzon from 12 midnight on March 17 until 11:59 p.m. on June 30, restricting travel within the region in efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Construction of the new terminal, access roads, bus station, and car parks is 96% complete with only minor works remaining. Despite any challenges we are facing, we were actually ahead of schedule before the ECQ was implemented in Luzon," said Saavedra.

Construction of the new Clark Airport PTB is being undertaken by Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture Inc. (MGCJV), which won after submitting the lowest bid at P9.36 billion under a hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/732842/new-terminal-at-clark-airport-seen-completed-by-end-of-june/story/?just_in

Can San Miguel's Skyway and other infra projects finish on time amid the...

Rizal province on total lockdown starting April 6 to curtail COVID-19 spread

Rizal province will be on total lockdown starting Monday, April 6, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Acting Rizal Governor Reynaldo San Juan issued Executive Order 14 declaring a total lockdown in the entire province and restricting entry into and from its borders to address the rising cases of the coronavirus disease.

Those who will be exempted from the restriction are only those working in supermarkets, markets, hospitals, food preparation, and delivery, transport delivery service, agricultural supply, and other working business establishments allowed by the national government to operate.

Authorized government officials, health workers, media personnel, repatriated OFWs, and religious ministers will also be allowed entry and will be subjected to mandatory thermal scanning or temperature check.

Only transport vehicles provided by local government units to frontliners and critical services workers can operate, with observation of strict physical distancing measures.

Checkpoints are also established 24/7 in the borders of the province, in accordance with the guidelines of the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield.

San Juan noted that despite the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, residents have not been taking the order seriously.

"It is for the protection of the province. We want to ensure the safety of our people. Considerations have already been done since the implementation of the community quarantine but people do not take it seriously," he told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend.

"Some residents of Rizal, lumalabas pa rin po sa kanilang tahanan. Ang naka-set sa guidelines, only those exempted ang pwedeng lumabas. 'Yung mga kailangan lang gawin sa labas tulad ng pagbili ng pagkain at basic commodities," San Juan added.

[Translation: Some residents of Rizal are still going out of their homes. As stated in the guidelines, only those who are exempted can go out. Those who need to run errands such as buying of food and basic commodities.]

San Juan did not indicate how long the lockdown will last.

Rizal province rallied next to Metro Manila with the highest number of COVID-19 with 98 cases as of Sunday morning.

It is part of Luzon where an enhanced community quarantine is in effect since March 16, 2020.

The Philippines has 3,094 total COVID-19 cases to date with 144 deaths and 57 recoveries.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2020/4/5/rizal-province-lockdown-covid-19.html

Government in no rush to end Luzon lockdown

The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine set to end on April 12 may have to be extended for 15 to 20 more days to sustain its gains, the head of the national task force (NTF) against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) said on Saturday.

Task force chief Carlito Galvez Jr., who is also the presidential peace adviser, said the timing of the lifting of the quarantine was being discussed with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), which makes the policies to be implemented by the NTF during the national health emergency.

“It’s quite difficult to rush to normalcy and the problem comes back. What we are considering is to impose this in one go, perhaps extend it for another 15 or maybe 20 more days so we can sustain its positive impact,” he said in a radio interview.

An ill-timed termination of the quarantine period may spoil the government’s goal of “flattening the curve,” or controlling the contagion, Galvez said.

The DOH reported that 3,094 people had been afflicted with COVID-19, including 144 who had died and 57 who had recovered as of Saturday.

“It will be premature if we make the announcement at this time. We cannot preempt the decision of the President,” Galvez said.

Partial or total lifting?

Takeshi Kasai, Western Pacific regional director for the World Health Organization had also cautioned against rushing to end the quarantine and halt other public health regulations against COVID-19.

“We may have to peel one by one and not just immediately lift those public health measures which were bundled with the lockdown to balance and control the disease and to bring society back to normal,” he said.

Some lawmakers and business groups have called for an extension or gradual lifting of the restrictions.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the IATF-EID spokesperson, said it had approved the parameters proposed by a subtechnical working group for deciding whether to totally or partially lift or extend the Luzon lockdown.

The parameters include the trends in the growth or deceleration in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, said Nograles.

Capacity assessment

Also to be considered are the capacity of the country’s health care system, including the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities; the capability to mount contact tracing; the availability of personal protective equipment for front-line workers; and the country’s testing capacity.

Various social, economic and security factors will also be weighed, Nograles said.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) was directed to “convene all concerned agencies and to finalize the aggregation and analysis of all relevant data” which would be discussed by the IATF-EID before President Duterte makes the “final determination” of what to do.

Nograles said experts, including scientists, doctors, and members of the academe, would analyze data in coming up with recommendations about the quarantine.

China experts arriving

Nograles also said the IATF-EID had authorized the visit of a 12-member team of Chinese health experts to help the government deal with the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.

The SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the acute respiratory ailment, originated in Wuhan City, capital of central China’s Hubei province.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the team was expected to arrive on Sunday. The group of doctors and nurses will stay for two weeks to “observe and give recommendations” on such areas as infection prevention and control, critical care and laboratory management, she said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said the delegation would be led by Director-General Zheng Huiwen and include physicians from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Their expertise covers critical care medicine, infectious disease control, internal medicine and clinical integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Lab visits

Vergeire said the group would visit the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, San Lazaro Hospital in Manila and the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. 

These serve as laboratories for testing COVID-19 and also taking care of patients who have contracted SARS-CoV-2.

Vergeire earlier said the DOH had requested a visit by a group of Chinese experts “because we wanted to learn and be advised on our measures against COVID-19.”

“We want them to share their expertise because we saw that they have lessened their number of cases and deaths,” she said. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1254015/govt-in-no-rush-to-end-lockdown

DPWH: Build Build Build Program, magpapatuloy sa kabila ng ECQ

Galvez: 15 to 20-day extension of Luzon lockdown being studied

It would be ‘premature to make an announcement,’ but an extended lockdown is a ‘big possibility,’ says the chief implementer of government plans in quelling the pandemic

It’s too early to tell, but the government is studying whether to extend the “enhanced community quarantine” or lockdown of Luzon by another 15 to 20 days after its scheduled end on April 12, said National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr on Saturday, April 4.

While it’s “premature” to make an announcement at this point, Galvez said scientists and doctors specializing in epidemics are studying reference models from other countries in terms of “flattening the curve” or slowing down the rate of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

It would be difficult to “rush into normalcy” only to revert to another lockdown if it turns out the infection rate is still escalating, he added.

“So with that, ang nakita po namin, ang isa sa mga malaking possibility na magkaroon po tayo ng extension ng 15 days or maybe 20 days para po talagang ma-sustain natin. Kasi sa ngayon, medyo papaakyat pa po, hindi pa siya nagpa-plateau,” Galvez said in an interview with DZBB radio.

(So with that, what we’re seeing is that one of the big possibilities is we will have an extension of 15 days or maybe 20 days so that we can really sustain it. Because right now, it’s still rising, it hasn’t plateaued.)

The lockdown of Luzon island, home to roughly half the national population, began on March 17. Metro Manila, the capital region, has been on lockdown since March 15.

The prospects of a longer lockdown are being discussed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on emerging infectious diseases with President Rodrigo Duterte.

"We can’t preempt the President’s decision,” Galvez said.

Earlier on Saturday, the IATF said the government is looking at trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, the capacity of the health care system, as well as social, economic, and security factors as parameters in deciding whether to extend the Luzon-wide lockdown.

‘Massive testing’ of PUIs, PUMs

The NTF is in the thick of converting several large venues in Metro Manila and other parts of the country into quarantine facilities. Galvez said many of them should be ready by April 11.

The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila is the first expected to be ready – by April 6, Galvez earlier said – and it will house 200 beds. Along with the World Trade Center and the Philippine International Convention Center’s tent pavilion in Pasay City, the first national quarantine facilities will be able to take in up to 1,200 persons under investigation (PUI) and persons under monitoring (PUM) by next week.

A PUI is someone who has two or all of the following:

• History of travel in the past 14 days to countries with local transmissions and risk of importation of the virus;
• History of exposure to a confirmed case;
• Symptoms of respiratory illness (cough and/or colds) and/or fever.

Meanwhile, a PUM is someone who has a history of travel to a virus-hit country or exposure to a coronavirus patient.

Galvez said the Department of Health has started “massive testing” of PUIs and PUMs following the delivery of at least 168,000 testing kits from China, Singapore, and South Korea. Even more kits will soon be available, including the ones developed by a group of scientists from the University of the Philippines.

As more cases of the virus are confirmed, the government plans to trace each patient’s contacts – who would then be PUMs or, if they have symptoms, PUIs – and transfer them to national quarantine facilities.

The goal is to isolate as many possible carriers of the virus as possible in order to arrest its spread, Galvez earlier said.

As of Saturday, the Philippines has recorded 3,094 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 144 deaths and 57 recoveries.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/257004-galvez-says-luzon-lockdown-extension-possible

Business group supports end of Luzon lockdown on April 12, proposes easing quarantine restrictions

A business group recommends the lifting of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine on April 12, 2020 and the easing of lockdown restrictions.

"The calibrated easing of restrictions can be accompanied by specific safeguards and hygienic measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease while allowing a limited resumption of economic activity," the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) said in a statement.

The FEF describes itself as an advocacy institution, composed of respected business leaders, retired bureaucrats and academic economists. Listed in its Board of Advisers are former Prime Minister Cesar Virata and economist Gerardo Sicat.

On movement of people, goods

One of the safeguards proposed by the group is the mandatory use of face masks for everyone venturing outside their homes, a measure recently adopted by the COVID-19 inter-agency task force but only until the end of the quarantine period.

It also supports disinfection measures in public transportation before and after every trip, adding that the absence of mass transport has been particularly injurious to the poor.

The FEF recommends the removal of checkpoints between local government units to allow the free flow of goods, with disinfection procedures also to be strictly observed.

New work arrangements, reopening factories

The group supports work-from-home arrangements and staggered working hours after the lockdown is lifted. It also encourages continued salary payments to employees.

Meanwhile, factories may also reopen but must observe social distancing, with a ban on groups of more than ten people, the statement said.

The group added that aside from supermarkets and groceries, hardware stores must be allowed to operate as well.

Medical efforts to combat COVID-19

To "give valuable data for decision points,” the FEF supports mass or random testing for the virus.

It also encourages the mobilization of the private sector to produce much needed health supplies and the importation of critical medical equipment.

To gauge the effectiveness of measures, the group recommends a "weekly evaluation and assessment to further ease or dial up restrictions."

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/2/business-group-recommends-april-12-lockdown-end.html

More provinces placed under enhanced community quarantine

More provinces have been placed under enhanced community quarantine as a containing measure against the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

On Monday, Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan imposed a stay-at-home order in his province, a day after its first coronavirus infection was reported in Calbayog City.

Tan placed the entire province of Samar under ‘preemptive enhanced community quarantine’ to restrict the movement of people and prohibit non-essential travel from April 1 to 15, 2020. The measure amended his previous ‘general community quarantine’ policy.

While the new quarantine order is in effect, individuals below 18 years old and people aged 60 years old and above are strictly prohibited from leaving their homes.

Unless they show COVID-19 symptoms, Tan said farmers and fisherfolk are exempted from the lockdown to ensure enough food supply in the province.

The latest move came a day after Samar reported its first COVID-19 case in Calbayog City on March 31.

Negros Oriental is also set to implement strict home quarantine to all its residents starting on April 3. It is also banning land and sea travel to and from the province.

According to the province’s Executive Order No. 2020-26, only one able-bodied member of the household will be allowed to venture out to access basic necessities. He or she must not be older than 65 years old.

Basic services will continue to be provided by local government departments which have adopted alternative work arrangements, the order stipulated.

Only hospitals, pharmacies, gasoline stations, public utility services, and funeral parlors are the establishments allowed to operate 24-hours.

Other businesses like restaurants, public markets, groceries, veterinary clinics, and banks could only operate until 8 pm.

The order also restricts land and sea travel in the province, which means no one is allowed to enter and exit the province during the quarantine period.

In Ilocos Norte, meanwhile, a town mayor has ordered an extreme enhanced community quarantine in one of his barangays.

Paoay Mayor Romulo Acdal, Sr. has imposed a total lockdown in Barangay Sungadan on Wednesday. With all of the community’s establishments ordered shut down, the issuance of quarantine passes was also temporarily suspended.

The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will end on April 13. So far, the country now has 2,311 cases of COVID-19, 96 deaths, and 50 recoveries.

Tacloban-based Stringer Wil Mark Amazona and CNN Philippines Multi-Platform News Writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2020/4/1/samar-quarantine.html