Starting August 16, Iloilo City will no longer implement border control as its community qurantine classification has been downgraded to modified enhanced community qurantine (MECQ).
The city is under ECQ, the strictest quarantine classification, since July 16.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday, August 13, announced that President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to deescalate the city’s ECQ status to MECQ.
Following this, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas issued Executive Order No. 75 mandating the MECQ protocols.
In issuing the EO, the city mayor specifically considered the rising cases of the Delta variant in the region.
While the border control is lifted, Treñas strongly encouraged that the travel of persons within Panay Island to Iloilo City by way of land, sea and air travel remains limited only for purposes such as work, medical needs, accessing government services, transport of goods and/or construction materials, humanitarian purposes; and receiving first/second dose of COVID-19 vaccines; returning iverseas Filipino (ROFs), retuning Iloilo City residents and authorized person outside residence (APOR); and residents of the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras.
The EO also provides that travel for leisure purposes to and from Negros Island is prohibited.
The delivery of goods and cargo to and from the island shall remain unhampered.
Meanwhile, all inbound travel from areas other than Panay and Negros Island is only limited to ROFs, APORs, and returning Iloilo City residents.
The curfew in the city is from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. except those who are allowed to operate beyond curfew hours.
Still, vulnerable sectors such as 65 years old and above and below 18 years old, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities and disabilities, are prohibited from going out of their houses except when availing essential goods and services.
Selling of liquor is allowed but only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Public consumption is prohibited.
Restaurant and food establishments are only allowed to operate but only for take-outs.
Bank operation is allowed at full-on site capacity but only from 9a.m. to 2p.m.
Vaccination roll-out shall remain unhampered as well as public transportation.
The Iloilo Esplanade, parks and public plazas will open for individual outdoor exercises but minimum public health protocols must be observed.
Mass gatherings are still prohibited, religious services are allowed at 10 percent of the venue capacity while wakes and funerals are limited to immediate family members only.
Businesses that are allowed to open at full on-site capacity include, among others, private and public hospitals, clinics, health centers, manufacturers of medicines and vitamins, agriculture industries, logistics services providers, essential or priority construction projects, and food and essential good manufacturers.
Other businesses, persons, or activities are allowed to operate at 50 percent on-site capacity while encouraging work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.
On the other hand, establishments that are prohibited to open include entertainment venues, recreational venues, amusement, theme parks, outdoor or indoor sports courts, casinos, horse racing, and cockfighting, among others.IMT
