With the April 30 deadline now at hand and the implementation of General Quarantine Status (GCQ) will be in effect, DILG XII Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III expressed optimism that it will “pave the way for the much-needed economic recovery of the whole of Region XII.”
The downgrading of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for Region XII had been recommended by the National IATF-EID recently. In a video conference held with the regional Inter-Agency TF on Covid 19 and the RIATG-EID recently, the Director made a presentation of the possible scenario under the General Community Quarantine.
“Expect changes under the GCQ, and we will live with it under the ‘new normal’. The general population will still be able to move around to buy essentials and their access basic needs and supplies but this time, the wearing of masks will be mandatory. Basic precautionary measures such as physical distancing, good personal hygiene and the observance of sneezing or coughing etiquette must be observed as well, as part of the ‘minimum health standards’ that we all need to practice,” Dir. Leysa stated.
Based on the guidelines for communities under the GCQ, malls and shopping centers will be allowed to operate with certain sections open to the public including supermarkets, drugstores and banks. But residents will have to prepare for the routine temperature scans upon entry in malls or supermarkets. They will also have to give up free Wi-Fi connections and a much warmer temperature at the malls (set at 26 degrees C).
Also, laundry services and restaurants will be opened but the latter will only allow take-outs and deliveries.
“That means, we have to forgo the usual habit of dining out muna. We also advise residents to always keep their IDs handy as they go about their business in the coming days kasi nga it can help facilitate the checking of the age of person in public. We look forward to a good start to help restart our local economy without compromising on our gains against Covid 19 during the past weeks,” Dir. Leysa added.
Dir. Leysa finally called on all citizens to keep themselves informed through various reliable sources as new guidelines for the GCQ will be implemented in the whole of Region XIII. “Watch out for announcements and media releases as things become much clearer in the next few days.
