This Week in Central Luzon (April 11 to 17, 2020)

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) Chairman Wilma Eisma required all individuals within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to wear face masks upon leaving their homes. Effective since March 30, 2020, the notice said that the face masks must be worn at all times and must not be removed even while inside vehicles, offices, and factories. Penalties will be charged for those who will violate the strictly implemented rule. [1]

The province of Zambales has completely shut their borders due to the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the area. Philippine National Police Zambales Provincial Director Col. Pojie Penones, Jr. said that all non-residents of Zambales, except essential personnel, will be strictly denied entrance at the checkpoints. The total lockdown will last until further notice. [2]

Last April 1, 2020, SBMA Chairman & Administrator Wilma Eisma released a notice stating that Subic Bay Freeport Zone residents and workers who seek or have sought medical treatment, medicines, and medical supplies may exit and enter the Freeport under the following conditions:

1. They must obtain a Travel Pass from the Incident Management Team at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located at the Daycare Center, Bldg. 662, Dewey Avenue, Subic Bay Freeport.

2. Those who have sought emergency medical treatment must present a medical certificate from the hospital where they obtained treatment upon re-entry to the Freeport. [3]

Clark, Pampanga has taken safety measures to fight COVID-19. The Athletes’ Village in New Clark City has undergone extensive cleaning and sanitation after passengers from the MV Diamond Princess completed their quarantine in the said place. Personnel from the Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development, all in complete protective gears, helped disinfect and sanitize all the rooms used for the isolation of the 445 repatriates of the ship. The Clark Development Corporation also issued strict guidelines on preventive measures against COVID-19. These guidelines include the disinfection of all public places and monitoring of all locators and employees whose business transactions require physical appearance in CDC Offices. [4]

Last April 4, 2020, the SBMA implemented strict border control measures to restrict the coming and going of people and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the area. The control measures took effect last Monday, April 6, 2020. The measures state that only authorized people and vehicles are allowed to access the Subic Bay Freeport Zone through the Rizal and Morong Gate. These authorized personnel include SBMA employees on duties, employees of establishments that are allowed by the SBMA to operate, medical professionals, members of law enforcement, and many more.

The Tipo Gate will only be allowed for vehicles that transport SBMA employees on duty, medical professionals, and the like. The Kalayaan Gate, on the other hand, will only be for emergency vehicles only; meanwhile the Kalaklan Gate, Kalaklan Pedestrian Gate, Main Gate fronting Magsaysay Avenue, and 14th Street Gate will all be closed. [5]

Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country, Clark International Airport temporarily suspended all commercial carriers flying out of Clark starting April 3, 2020. P2P bus operations will also be suspended, but Clark Airport will continuously be operational to serve essential cargo flights. [6]

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corp made the Northern Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway toll-free for all the medical frontliners during the enhanced community quarantine. All medical professionals must present their PRC ID and secure the toll-free RFID Sticker. They may also enroll their existing RFID sticker in the free pass program. Enrollment and installation of stickers will be done at the NLEX Balintawak Customer Service Center from Mondays to Saturdays, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. San Miguel Corporation also followed suit and waived toll on all its expressways for all the frontliners to show its utmost support and gratitude. [7]

To comply with the enhanced community quarantine, SM City Clark has temporarily closed its doors to the public. However, establishments that provide essentials will remain open. In a social media post, SM CIty Clark announced the new operating schedules of these establishments:

1. SM Hypermarket, GL - 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

2. Alfamart, Clark Tech Hub 6 - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

3. BDO, Clark, GL, Main Mall - Monday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Thursday to Sunday: closed

4. GNC, GL - 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

5. Medicard, L2, Wellness Zone - Monday to Wednesday: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Thursday to Sunday: closed

6. Watsons, GL - 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

7. 7-Eleven, Clark Tech Hub 1 - Open 24 Hours

8. Chinabank, GL - Monday & Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday: closed

9. Maxicare, Clark Tech Hub 6 - 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM [8]

Government Service Insurance System pensioners who were not able to comply with the personal appearance requirement or Activation of Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR) before March 2020 may now do it online. GSIS President and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said that they will be providing online services for the personal appearance requirement for pensioners since it is part of the pension’s fund efforts to assist and protect all its pensioners amid the COVID-19 threat. [9]

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is going to convert its Subic Gymnasium as a community quarantine site for all people under monitoring for COVID-19. SBMA Chairman Wilma Eisma mentioned that efforts were underway to convert the Subic Gymnasium and former Leciel Hotel as isolation facilities for people under investigation with mild to moderate symptoms to help preserve the limited space left at the Allied Care Experts Medical Centre-Baypointe Hospital. [10]

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Central Luzon.