This Week in Metro Manila (October 10 to 16, 2020)

The city government of Pasig is planning to implement a scheduled cemetery visit for the incoming All Saints and All Souls Day. According to the Pasig LGU official Facebook page, residents can visit private and public cemeteries in Pasig City from October 26 to November 7. The LGU clarified that only Pasig City residents are allowed to visit cemeteries on said dates.

Visitors must present a valid ID as a proof of residence before they can enter the cemeteries. They must also follow strict health protocols such as wearing of face shields and face masks. The age restriction for visitors is lifted. Schedules are set per barangay and are as follows:

• Bambang

• Malinao

• Manggahan

• Kalawaan

• Palatiw

• Kapasigan

• Sagad

• Bagong Ilog

• Sto. Tomas

• Sumilang

• Santolan

• Bagong Katipunan

• Pinagbuhatan

• Dela Paz

• Pineda

• Sta. Rosa

• San Nicolas

• San Miguel

• Sta. Rosa

• San Jose

• Sta. Cruz

• Ugong

• Buting

• Sta. Lucia

• Caniogan

• Maybunga

• Kapitolyo

• Rosario

• San Antonio

• San Joaquin

• Oranbo

Cremation and burial services are available but grounds will also be closed from October 29 to November 4 [1].

A new tele-aral program was launched in Taguig City last October 2 before the start of blended learning on October 5. The Tele-Aral Center is a new learning system where students can call teachers to ask about modules. The tele-aral program aims to provide quality education safely, addressing the changes in methods of learning during the pandemic [2].

According to Mayor Lino Cayetano, the center will be handled by 500 trained teachers. The program will be handled within the Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano (SRCC) Memorial Science and Technology High School [2]. The equipment at SRCC includes 50 desktop computers with communications apps, headsets, and 15 phone lines. An additional 20 substitute and support staff will also be working at the facility.

AF Payments, Inc. (AFPI) will provide 125,000 free Beep cards to EDSA Busway commuters. Beep cards are seen as a way to make contactless payments for commuters during the COVID-19 pandemic, but use of the cards for EDSA busway was suspended for five days due to the undecided pricing of the cards [3]. Beep cards will be used until a QR-based ticketing system becomes fully operational. So far, passengers can use either the card or cash to pay before boarding buses.

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 management announced that commuters can expect shorter waiting times as the speed of the trains were adjusted from 30 kilometers per hour (kph) to 40 kph [4]. DOTR also said that the speed might increase to 50 kph by November And to 60 kph in December. Through this change, passengers’ waiting times are expected to be shortened to 6.5 to 7 minutes.

A new molecular testing lab for COVID-19 was launched by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) last October 5, 2020. The new South Harbor Molecular Laboratory is capable of conducting 2,000 COVID-19 tests daily for returning and disembarking seafarers. The COVID-19 test results can be expected within 24 to 48 hours after the test. The facility will also provide help to seafarers by providing travel requirements and isolation facilities for mandatory quarantine. According to PPA, the molecular laboratory was established to make sure that the country will not be sending off infected seafarers [5].

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Metro Manila.