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This Week News
This Week in Metro Manila (April 4 to 10, 2020)
See the latest round of quarantine news in Metro Manila here.
By: Denisse Shawntel Tan | April 04, 2020
With the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) still ongoing, the commemoration of Holy Week will be suspended. In Manila, a liquor ban has also been enacted to prevent social gatherings. Meanwhile, Bagong Silang in Caloocan City is placed under extreme enhanced community quarantine. Transportation for frontliners and people with health concerns also improved as Mandaluyong and Pasig City now offer free services. Adjustments in market schedules are also implemented across Metro Manila to adhere to the rules of social distancing. In health news, more facilities are opened for patients and frontliners, and new test kits are expected to be produced this week.
Quarantine News
Liquor ban implemented in Manila
A temporary liquor ban has been implemented in Manila by the city government. The ban prohibits selling and distribution of any kind of liquor during the enhanced community quarantine. Violators will have their business permit revoked [1] by the Manila local government. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno added that mass gatherings—which are the reason for the ban—are strictly prohibited.
Bagong Silang placed under extreme enhanced community quarantine
Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City is placed under extreme enhanced community quarantine (EECQ) after reaching three confirmed cases of COVID-19. Bagong Silang is the most populous barangay in the city, and the EECQ is the local government’s solution to inhibit the spread of the virus. The extreme enhanced community quarantine will follow the rules of the enhanced community quarantine, including allowing only one person per household to buy essentials.
Supermarkets, markets, and groceries will remain operational, but residents from other barangays are not allowed to buy from Bagong Silang’s markets. No one is allowed to leave without a quarantine pass, but essential workers, frontliners, and emergency cases are allowed to enter and exit the barangay. Authorities will allow entry and exit along the border of Bagong Silang and Barangay 175 in Camarin, Caloocan. As of writing, Caloocan City currently has 14 confirmed cases [2].
City of Manila punishes discrimination against COVID-19 positive individuals and healthcare workers
On April 2, 2020, the city government of Manila released ordinance no. 8624 or the Anti-COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020, which will prohibit any person from committing any act of discrimination against PUIs, PUMS, COVID-19 positive patients, and health care workers. Those who will create acts that will bring shame, disgrace, and humiliation against said individuals will be fined PhP5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months. The ordinance also covers harmful social media posts that publicly expose any PUI and PUMs without their consent.
The bill was inspired by news about health care workers being evicted from their residences. Some nurses were also doused with water and some were refused in eateries or public transportation. It was enacted in hopes to remove the aggressive stigmatization caused by public panic.
Face masks now required in Luzon
Wearing face masks or any improvised face covers is now required for residents and workers in Luzon when they leave their homes. Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on April 2 that those who will be going out of their homes during the entire enhanced community quarantine will be required to wear face masks. Improvised protection gears such as handkerchief and DIY masks are also allowed, as long as they cover the mouth and nose.
COVID-19 is spread through droplets from the nose or mouth. The WHO previously recommended healthy individuals to not wear masks, and only those who are sick or caring for the sick should wear them. As of writing, there isn’t any statement regarding punishments for those who will go out without a face mask.
Transportation News
Mandaluyong frontliners get free shuttle service
Free rides are now offered to health workers, frontliners, and those who will buy essentials in Mandaluyong City [3]. The free shuttle service operates from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and currently has the following routes: Boni-Kalentong-Acacia Lane (and vice versa), Hulo-Kalentong-JRU (and vice versa), Vergara-JRU (and vice versa), and JRU - Sierra Madre (and vice versa). To maintain social distancing, passengers are limited per van. Pick-up points and designated stops are indicated per route. The complete details of each route are published in Mandaluyong City Public Information Office’s Facebook page.
Pasig City E-trikes are available for residents
E-trikes are now operational in Pasig City to help ferry residents who are required to have regular medical check-ups in medical facilities in the city. Services will only be offered to patients who have chronic diseases, are undergoing regular dialysis and chemotherapy and ARV, as well as to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women.
To avail services , the residents are required to provide their name and other basic contact details, preferred pick-up point, time of check-up, address of the medical facility, and proof of their regular medical appointment to the Pasig City Transport. They can reach the office through the following number: 8-643-0000.
Note that the service isn’t for emergency cases; residents are required to call two days before their scheduled check-up. Slots are filled on a first come, first served basis. In case the appointment gets canceled days before the pickup schedule, residents are required to inform the Pasig City local government so the slot can be given to someone else [4].
Shopping News
Mobile markets deployed in several Luzon cities
Several cities in Luzon have resorted to using mobile markets to provide residents easier access to food:
• Caloocan City has 25 jeepneys or “Jeepalengke” circling the city to sell food supplies to residents from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM [5].
• For Pasay City, there are “Pasay City Rolling Stores” which cater to different barangays. Schedules vary, but the rolling stores only operate from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM [6].
• Makati City’s “Makati Mart” is deployed in different parts of the city starting as early as 7:30 AM. Schedules of the mobile market are regularly posted on the city governments social media pages [7].
Other cities who also have mobile markets are Pasig City, Valenzuela City, Parañaque City, Antipolo City, and Taytay City. Schedules for said mobile markets can be seen at the cities’ respective social media pages.
Frontliners get priority lanes in supermarkets
Priority lanes are dedicated to medical frontliners in several supermarkets during the enhanced community quarantine period. SM Supermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, and other supermarkets in Luzon have dedicated lanes for medical frontliners as a way to thank them for their service [8].
Trabajo Market reopening postponed due to COVID-19 positive vendor
The Trabajo Market in Sampaloc Manila postponed their supposed reopening on March 31 because the entire vicinity was placed under lockdown after one vendor tested positive for COVID-19. The vendors and stall owners in the market are currently going on self-quarantine while the local government conducts a regular disinfection of the market [9]. The schedule for the market’s reopening has not been announced yet.
Several cities issue market schedules
To practice better social distancing, the government of Navotas implemented an odd-even scheme for market schedules. The numbers will be based on the quarantine pass numbers. Those whose pass numbers end in odd numbers are allowed to go to the market from 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM; those with even numbers can go between 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM [10].
Kamuning Market in Quezon City also issued a schedule for residents starting April 1 [11], which is as follows:
• Monday: K-1st, K-2nd, K-3rd, K-4th and Park Avenue
• Tuesday: K-K-5th, K-6th, K-7th, and K-8th
• Wednesday: K-F, K-E, K-D/Erestain and Bernardo compound
• Thursday: J. Jimenez, T. Gener, L. Siangho streets, and Kamuning Road
• Friday: For those who missed their appointed day
• Saturdays and Sundays: For non-residents of Barangay Kamuning
Those who will buy at the market are required to bring an ID or quarantine pass. Their addresses must be written on the quarantine pass as proof of residency.
Banks and Remittances news
SSS extends loan payment deadline
The Social Security System’s (SSS) deadlines for remittance of contributions and loan payments has been extended during the COVID-19 outbreak. Payments for the months of February to April can be paid until June 1 without penalty. The extension covers all regular employees, self-employed, voluntary members, household employees, and non-working spouses.
Payments for salary loans, calamity loans, emergency loans, and educational loans can be paid in May. In case there’s an extension in the community quarantine period, SSS will also get an approval to extend the moratorium. In addition, SSS also offers calamity loan assistance to those affected by the COVID-19. Members can apply online and their loans would be equivalent to their monthly salary credit [12].
Health News
More facilities opened for patients and health workers
Additional facilities have been designated to aid more patients of COVID-19. The Metro Pacific Hospitals group assigned Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Sta. Mesa, Manila as the main referral hospital for coronavirus cases. 15 of Metro Pacific’s hospitals also doubled their capacity to 600 beds. Supplemental tents with beds and equipment will be provided in case the pandemic continues to rise in intensity [13].
Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Manila opened several of their facilities to aid medical frontliners. Shelters include St. Mary’s College, Convent of the Holy Spirit, and OFM Provincial House San Bautista Province, St. Anthony shrine, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Convent, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Senora de Guia, and St. John Bosco Parish. Parochial schools such as Malate Catholic School, Espiritu Santo Parochial Schools, and Holy Trinity Academy also provide temporary shelters to street dwellers and the homeless.
120,000 test kits available by April 4
120,000 locally-made test kits for COVID-19 will be available starting April 4. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said in a press release that HealthTek, a diagnostic solutions laboratory has been given the first batch of reagents that can be useful in creating a batch of test kits.
The test kits that would be manufactured will be distributed to hospitals that currently caters to COVID-19 cases such as Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, Baguio General Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City [14].
Holiday News: Holy Week celebration guidelines
The Diocese of Cubao has established guidelines for Holy week. Since the entire Luzon is currently under enhanced community quarantine, the usual activities will not be conducted to avoid public gatherings. Holy masses will not be open to the public and will be kept simple.
For Palm Sunday, the holy mass will be conducted online for virtual blessings. Mass for Maundy Thursday will be canceled. Meanwhile, the mass for the Last Supper will still be held but without the “washing of the feet” and procession. Devotees are also not allowed to kiss the cross on Good Friday. Lastly, the Easter Vigil Mass on Black Saturday will be moved to 5:30 PM instead of 9:00 PM [15].
Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Metro Manila.
Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/2V15qNR
[2] https://bit.ly/2JAJVhw
[3] https://bit.ly/39KOHDX
[4] https://bit.ly/2UW9cI9
[5] https://bit.ly/2Xcbbe2
[6] https://bit.ly/3dQgjdV
[7] https://bit.ly/3aHpqeX
[8] https://bit.ly/3446CUO
[9] https://bit.ly/39G0dAn
[10] https://bit.ly/345cbSO
[11] https://bit.ly/3dSr2EP
[12] https://bit.ly/2V2mFOC
[13] https://bit.ly/2x0Z4G5
[14] https://bit.ly/2x0Z4G5
[15] https://bit.ly/2x0Z4G5
About Denisse Shawntel Tan
Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.
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