CALOOCAN CITY, May 16 (PIA) – Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued a memorandum prescribing localized guidelines that will be implemented in Quezon City as it shifted from the enhanced community quarantine into modified enhanced community quarantine starting Saturday, May 16.
“As we transition from ECQ to MECQ, we have crafted policies that will help our citizens adjust to the new normal and restart the city’s economy under the present condition,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte’s memorandum includes some localized strategies and initiatives to help stop the spread of COVID-19, on top of the MECQ guidelines earlier released by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Among them is the continued implementation of the Special Concern Lockdown Areas, where select areas with high COVID-19 cases or high probability of virus spreading will be placed under strict containment.
In addition, the city also requires businesses with 10 or more employees to submit to the City Health Department their program for COVID-19 employee testing, at cost to the establishments.
While no public transportation is allowed, the city permitted establishments that are allowed to operate under MECQ to provide point-to-point private transport services or shuttles, including the hiring of public utility buses, public utility jeepneys, or high occupancy vehicles, for the exclusive use of their employees.
The local government also allowed tricycles to operate under strict health and safety condition and adherence to the route indicated in their franchise.
Belmonte encouraged all drivers concerned to submit themselves for COVID-19 checking in one of the city’s community-based centers.
The city government also plans to expand its current “Libreng Sakay” bus services to accommodate residents traveling to and from permitted establishments.
In an effort to encourage local residents to use bicycle as a mode of last-mile transport, Belmonte encouraged barangays to provide free bicycle parking spaces.
The directive also mandates all establishments in Quezon City to assign a Health and Safety Officer accountable to ensure that these guidelines are strictly implemented, in addition to compliance with the usual occupational health and safety standards and regulations.
As earlier directed by the IATF, businesses like manufacturers of food, water, and non-alcoholic beverage and medical and hygiene products, hospitals and clinics, essential retailers such supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, water refilling stations and drugstores can now fully operate under the MECQ.
“This is subject to compliance with thermal scanning, social distancing, hand washing, use of face masks, testing program and other applicable health measures,” said Belmonte.
The local government also allowed other businesses to operate with up to 50 percent of their workforce on-site, including general manufacturing, office administration and support services.
The city will be releasing this weekend detailed guidelines to guide each sector like business sector, construction, waste management, environment, law and order, transport sector and others to avoid confusion and grey areas.
Those who will violate the guidelines could face charges of violation of Sec. 9 of Republic Act No. 11332, which penalizes non-cooperation of person or entities affected by a health event of public concern and/or 151 of the Revised Penal Code or Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority.
Belmonte called on residents to fully abide by the guidelines set by the city government, saying their cooperation is instrumental in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the city.
“Mahalaga ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa sa paglipat natin patungo sa MECQ. Kailangan natin ang tulong ng lahat para hindi na kumalat pa ang virus na ito,” Belmonte said. (QC PAISD/PIA-NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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