Follow us on
This Week News
This Week in Northern Luzon (April 25 to May 1, 2020)
Ilocos Norte will remain on total lockdown during the ECQ.
By: Antonette Louise Guiao | April 25, 2020
Even though the expected end of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine approaches, provinces are still taking extra caution and implementing stricter guidelines to keep their residents safe. Baguio has announced new travel permit guidelines and shifted its market schedule to closely monitor and limit the movement of people and is coming up with a concrete plan that will help the city recover after the pandemic. Ilocos Norte firmly remains on lockdown to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the province.
Quarantine Updates
Baguio’s new travel permit guidelines
In a social media post, Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong announced new travel permit guidelines to help determine fake and unauthorized vehicle permits amid the ECQ. New travel permits will be issued according to these new guidelines:
1. Private unmarked vehicles being used as service vehicles for food delivery service, errand services, Authorized Person Outside Residence (APOR) shuttles, and relief goods for private citizens and organizations shall be required to secure a Travel Permit from the Office of the Mayor.
2. Persons applying for a Travel Permit in the food delivery services and errand services must present their business permit or any proof of legitimate business in the absence thereof;
3. Persons applying for APOR Shuttle Travel Permits must present a Certificate of Engagement as shuttle service from the business or establishment to which they are providing shuttle services;
4. Persons applying for Travel Permits for relief goods must show any proof to substantiate that they are truly ferrying relief goods to front liners and health workers;
5. All applicants must present a copy of their vehicle OR/CR;
6. For purposes of this Advisory, the following need not secure a Travel Permit:
• Labelled and marked company service vehicles;
• Labelled and marked Hospital vehicles ferrying health workers
• Government vehicles;
• Private vehicles personally used by APOR;
• Private vehicles travelling within the city according to HQP restrictions;
• Cargo vehicles carrying goods in accordance with DTI Memorandum Circular No. 20-06, dated 19 March 2020
• Vehicles already bearing legitimate DTI issued IDs
• Vehicles already bearing legitimate Food Pass as issued by the Department of Agriculture;
• Vehicles already bearing legitimate ID or permits as issued by any Government Agency;
• PUV services as registered with the Barangays and the BCPO [1]
Baguio City plans “new normal”
A transition to a new way of living is being planned in Baguio City. According to Mayor Benjie Magalong, the transition is being drafted along with inputs from various sectors. After the ECQ, Magalong said that the first to resume will be construction operations, followed by the transport sectors. He also assured that while taking small steps into a new life, Baguio will continuously close its borders and schools until May 31, 2020.
The tourism, hotel, and restaurant sectors will be addressed next in cooperation with the Tourism and Promotions Board, and restaurants and other dining spots will be opened but with strict precautionary guidelines. The city management committee and department heads have already discussed an action plan for Baguio City’s economic recovery and will implement it if there will be no enhanced community quarantine extension after April 30. [2]
Ilocos Norte remains under total lockdown
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc reiterated that the province will remain under total lockdown while the enhanced community quarantine is in effect. The governor mentioned that what’s important is that there should be no unnecessary entry of individuals from outside the province. Half of Ilocos Norte’s towns have finished establishing their quarantine facilities, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) is currently establishing additional isolation quarters. [3]
Traffic News: Number coding in Baguio suspended during ECQ
The number coding scheme in Baguio City has been suspended by Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the duration of the ECQ through an executive order. This will allow residents whose assigned market day coincides with their vehicle’s number coding restrictions to use their cars when going out. [4]
Shopping News
New market schedules in Baguio
The City Government of Baguio has imposed stricter enhanced community quarantine rules and a new market schedule. Only persons issued with permits that allow them to go to the market may do so for only two days to limit the movement of residents. Market hours will be stretched from five hours to six hours, and Sunday will be a “no market” day. Those who do not have essential things to buy will be sent home, and places with residents who defy the rules may be placed on total lockdown. [5]
Hardware stores and more will be allowed to operate in Baguio City
All hardware stores, office supply stores, auto supply stores, electrical supply stores, and information and communications technology gadgets stores in Baguio City are now allowed to open during the enhanced community quarantine. Mayor Magalong has issued executive orders which provide additional pay for the said store operations. Starting April 25, these stores will operate every Saturday of the week. [6]
Rustan’s will deliver essential online orders in Luzon
Shoppers in the National Capital Region as well as provinces including Baguio may now shop at Rustan’s website which will deliver purchases to different areas in Luzon. Personal care products, baby care needs, health and wellness supplies, selected household supplies, and other essential goods are some of the items that can be ordered and purchased. Note that only those products displayed with a blue “Essentials” label are only the items Rustan’s may deliver during the ECQ period. [7]
Health News
Teachers’ Camp opens as quarantine center for OFWs
One of Baguio City’s most historic places will be used as a quarantine center for all returning overseas Filipino workers starting April 16. Teachers’ Camp will be used by OFWs before they are allowed to go back to their respective homes. The city can make use of the facility’s 129 beds. Along with the Lindi Hotel on Legarda Road and the old Sto. Nino Hospital, the City of Pines now has three COVID-19 centers in total. [8]
Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Northern Luzon.
Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3byXdrk
[2] https://bit.ly/2xFLvMR
[3] https://bit.ly/2znTWgc
[4] https://bit.ly/2Kv1foo
[5] https://bit.ly/2XXhJxJ
[6] https://bit.ly/2KnD5wi
[7] https://bit.ly/2XSYZ2q
[8] https://bit.ly/3eLY1La
About Antonette Louise Guiao
Antonette is a writer, a night owl, an extrovert, and a BTS ARMY. Her spare time is consumed by drawing digital vector art, sleeping, binge-watching Netflix series, and learning how to cook. An adventurer by heart, she aspires to travel the world with her family, try extreme outdoor activities, and taste all sorts of food in different countries.
Learn more stories on:
Location Tags:
Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are
for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although
careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all
information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended
to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
ALSO READ
CATEGORIES
VIDEO MARKET PLACE
FOLLOW US ON
MORE STORIES AROUND THE PHILIPPINES
