Balungao Pangasinan Philippines
MUNICIPAL INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19
BALUNGAO, PANGASINAN
RESOLUTION NO. 016-2021
IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF BALUNGAO, ADOPTING THE NATIONAL GUIDELINES WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS
FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (GCQ)
WITH HEIGHTENED RESTRICTION
WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1993, provide that Local Government Units within their territorial jurisdiction shall promote health and safety of the people;
WHEREAS, due to the nationwide spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Philippines is declared to be under State of Public Health Emergency and State of Calamity by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte;
WHEREAS, through Executive Order No. 112, s. 2020, the Omnibus Guidelines for the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines (Omnibus Guidelines) issued and periodically updated by the IATF-EID is adopted for the implementation of health and quarantine protocols for different quarantine classifications in the Philippines;
WHEREAS, the Province of Pangasinan has been experiencing an unusual and alarming increase in COVID-19 cases since August 21, 2021 when the average daily new cases jumped from 93 to 322, with a record-high 721 cases logged on August 27, 2021, for a total of 21,653 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic;
WHEREAS, seventeen (17) cases of COVID-19 Delta (B.1.617) Variant were detected in Pangasinan, and there are reasons to believe that a community transmission of the Delta Variant is ongoing in the province;
WHEREAS, the public and private hospitals in Pangasinan have reached their maximum dedicated bed capacity for COVID-19 cases, as the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) in San Carlos City is now operating more than 200% of its COVID-19 dedicated bed capacity, forcing the consideration of resorting to alternative quarantine facilities such as hotels, lodging facilities and classrooms;
WHEREAS, due to the foregoing COVID-19 situation in Pangasinan and the appeal made by the Provincial IATF, the IATF-EID reclassified the Province of Pangasinan from Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) under Resolution No. 135-A (s.2021) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from September 8-30, 2021 pursuant to Resolution No. 136-F (s.2021);
WHEREAS, the shift from MGCQ to GCQ renders necessary promulgation of community quarantine guidelines consistent with the latest Omnibus Guidelines and issuances of the IATF-EID and other relevant government agencies;
WHEREAS, this Local Government Unit, through its Local Inter-Agency Task Force (L-IATF) adopts the provincial and national government guidelines on General Community Quarantine, which are as follows:
• ADOPTING THE NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL GUIDELINES WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (GCQ).
As per declaration of the National Government placing the entire Province of Pangasinan in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and the State of Public Health Emergency and Calamity still enforced, the Local Inter-Agency Task Force of this municipality has revised its original guidelines with emphasis on the minimum health and safety standards and to prevent abuse of power by the Local Government Officials and Barangay Officials.
• CURFEW.
Shall remain enforced, from 8:00 pm through 4:00 am, with the exception of those who work on irregular and graveyard shift and in health emergency cases.
All movements outside of residence and operations of work and service is not allowed except for emergency purposes.
• AUTHORIZED PERSONS OUTSIDE RESIDENCE (APOR).
Persons with ages 21 to 59 years old only shall be allowed to be outside their residence for work, procurement of basic and essential necessities and for other transactions where physical presence is required, but not limited to:
1. Authorized Local Officials and employees of all agencies and instrumentalities of the government including GOCCs and LGUs;
2. Health and Emergency Frontliners;
3. Delivery Personnel;
4. Healthy Farmers;
5. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and individuals performing relief operations;
6. Construction workers accredited by DPWH to work in quarantine-related facilities and government infrastructure projects;
7. One (1) person per household preferably 19 to 64 years old only to avail essential goods and services within their respective localities;
8. Public Transportation Service (with Franchise/License);
9. Workers of Food Service with Business Permit;
10. Workers of Market Centers with Business Permit;
11. Worker of Agricultural & Veterinary Service with Business Permit;
12. Workers of Utilities (electric, water, telecom) with Business Permit;
13. Handyman (mechanic, plumber, carpenter, electrician, electronic technicians, mason and etc.) serving on vital and emergency situation;
14. Home convenience workers (care giver, cleaners, cook, laundry, driver, gardener,); and
15. College students allowed of face-to-face classes.
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS OUTSIDE RESIDENCE (UPOR):
1. Persons below 21 years old;
2. Persons 60 years old and above;
3. Those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, other health risks;
4. Pregnant Women; and
Persons living with UPOR must undertake self-decontamination (take a bath and change clothes) before entering the house and mingling with them.
No elderly with ages 65 years old and above and youth with ages 18 years old and below shall be out of their residence, except when the purpose or transaction requires their physical presence.
• OPERATION OF PUBLIC MARKETS AND OTHERS SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS.
In the essence of exercising social distancing and the general community quarantine procedures in the prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force has adopted the minimum health standard for market daily operations and assigned schedules for the different clustered barangays.
The following market schedules are as follows:
• POBLACION, BALUNGAO PUBLIC MARKET: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 5:30 am through 1:30 pm;
• SAN LEON, BALUNGAO PUBLIC MARKET: Thursday and Saturday, 5:30 am through 1:30 pm.
When market place is closed, only pharmacy, food service (cooked foods), agricultural & veterinary stores and financial centers are allowed to be opened.
The assigned market hours must strictly be followed to prevent market goers from interacting with other people at the market. This must strictly be monitored by the different assigned PNP Personnel, Barangay Council or Barangay Police in the area to avoid lingering, congregating or loitering in the market vicinity or around the market stalls. Market hours for the different assigned clustered barangays in the two (2) markets must strictly be enforced and wearing of face mask, face shield and social distancing shall STRICTLY be observed.
Disinfection of the markets shall follow immediately after market hours. Market premises should be clear of customers and vendors during disinfection.
• SARI-SARI STORES AND CONVENIENT STORES SHALL REMAIN OPEN EXCEPT ON CURFEW HOURS.
Guidelines are as follows:
1. Sari-Sari Stores shall open daily except on curfew hours;
2. Buyers must fall in line with the distance of one meter apart from the next person, front and behind, and must avoid touching;
3. No one shall linger or congregate in front of the stores and must head home immediately after buying from the store;
4. No liquor shall be sold to minors; and
5. Disinfection of stores must regularly be conducted by the store owners.
• GROCERY STORES MUST OBSERVE STRICT RULES ON WEARING OF FACEMASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.
The guidelines for the operation of GROCERY STORES are as follows:
1. Grocery Stores shall remain open, except on curfew hours;
2. Grocery owners must inform their customers to fall in line before being called to enter the establishment. Customers shall enter in batches;
3. Customers in line must stand one meter apart, front and behind the other customers, and avoid touching;
4. Only a limited number of people, which would not cause crowding, shall first enter and be given a limited time to procure their needs and to give chance to others who are waiting in line;
5. Grocery owners shall not allow non-customers to linger or congregate in front of the establishment;
6. Grocery owners must call the attention of the buyer if not wearing face mask and face shield; and
7. Disinfection of Grocery Stores must regularly be conducted.
• PHARMACIES OR DRUGSTORES SHALL OPERATE AT REGULAR OPERATING HOURS NOT EXCEEDING THE CURFEW HOURS IMPOSED IN THE GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE.
Pharmacies or Drugstores remain open in a regular time basis, not exceeding the curfew hours and must follow the rules on social and physical distancing
The guidelines for Pharmacies and Drugstores are as follows:
1. Medicine and other prescription drugs shall be available in local pharmacy or drugstore;
2. Pharmacy or Drugstore Owner shall practice social distancing among pharmacist and customers. Customers shall also fall in line when there are more than three (3) customers at the counter, with a distance of one meter apart from each other, front and behind, and avoid physical contact;
3. No customer shall be deprived of the limited number of medicines or prescription drugs when prescribed to be taken at a specific number of days;
4. No Pharmacy or Drugstore shall hoard medicines when available and when there is no cessation of deliveries from Pharmaceutical or Drug Companies;
5. Pharmacy or Drugstore Owners shall not allow persons to linger or congregate in front of the establishment; and
6. Pharmacies or Drugstores must be disinfected thoroughly on a daily basis.
• FINANCIAL SERVICES.
Bayad Centers, Money Remittance Institutions, and other collection establishments (i.e., Rural Bank of Balungao, PANELCO III BILLING CENTER and BALUNGAO WATER DISTRICT) and other similar services shall be open on regular business hours.
Guidelines for the operation of financial establishments are as follows:
1. Stringent Social Distancing must be strictly observed;
2. Bayad Centers, Money Remittance Institutions, and other collection establishments must strictly impose “no face mask and no face shield no transaction policy”;
3. Congregating in these establishments is strictly prohibited;
4. These establishments shall observe strict sanitary rules and regulations; and
5. Disinfection of these establishments must regularly be conducted.
• OPERATION OF RESTAURANTS, FOOD STORES, EATERIES (KARINDERIAS), AND CANTEENS SHALL REMAIN OPEN OPERATING ONLY ON FOOD PREPARATION AND TAKE-OUT BASIS WITH STRICT OBSERVATION OF SANITARY RULES AND REGULATIONS.
The guidelines for operation of Restaurants, Food Stores, Eateries (Karinderias), and Canteens are as follows:
1. Restaurants shall remain open only for food preparation and on a take-out basis;
2. Congregating in these establishments is strictly prohibited;
3. These establishments shall observe strict sanitary rules and regulations;
4. Other similar establishments that serve food, drinks and liquor or alcoholic beverages shall follow similar guidelines for the operation of food stores; and
5. Disinfection of food stores must regularly be conducted.
• PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SHALL BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE PROVIDED THAT THEY OBSERVE MINIMUM HEALTH STANDARDS ON SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING, SAFETY PROTOCOLS, FOLLOWING THE LIMITED PASSENGER LOAD.
Pursuant to the implementation of the general community quarantine and stringent social distancing measures, the operation of Tricycles, kuliglig, and other similar public and mass transportation shall resume, provided that the operators, drivers and passengers follow the rules on social and physical distancing, safety protocol and the proper conduction of limited passenger load.
Public Tricycle Driver must only allow one (1) passenger. The rule on physical distancing shall still be implemented to keep a safe distance between driver and passenger. Backriding or passenger behind the driver is strictly prohibited.
Unless these types of vehicles are used in the delivery of basic and essential goods, with proper registration and identified by the Local Inter-Agency Task Force, these shall be permitted to pass. ONE PERSON OR ONLY THE DRIVER SHALL BE ALLOWED TO PASS.
• OPERATION OF FARMING, AGRIBUSINESS AND OTHER FARM ACTIVITIES MUST BE UNHAMPERED.
The cargo and delivery of farm products and farm activities are considered essential work for food sufficiency and security, therefore, must be unhampered to move around for the purpose of planting, harvesting, delivery and selling. It is provided, that these products are first introduced in the municipal markets for availability of food for the locals. Unless there is a declaration of a general community quarantine or total lockdown, the operation of farming and agribusiness shall cease for the protection and safety of the local small farmers and fisher folks.
In a memorandum issued, with the inclusion of recommended measures of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Department of Agriculture (DA) thru the Honorable Secretary William Dar states that:
1. Allow all farming and fishing to continue;
2. Exempt all healthy farm and farm workers, fishers and agri-business personnel;
3. Allow the agricultural supply/outlets and veterinary clinics operate;
4. Reiterate the unhampered movement of all supplies used for agriculture, including food packaging and manufacturing materials;
5. Reaction of the LPCC (Local Price Coordinating Council) to strengthen the price monitoring and enforcement;
6. Upscaling the KADIWA ni Ani at Kita in support for food availability, accessibility and price monitoring and enforcement; and
7. Support the DA program – Ahonsa lahat, PagkainSapat (ALPAS) kontra COVID-19.
The Local Inter-Agency Task Force, shall exempt healthy farmers and fisher folks and allow them to continue their farming activities to ensure food security and availability in the entire town and province, without abuse and with observation of the strict rule on social distancing.
Farmers, who are not healthy, has pre-existing conditions, immunocompromised shall subject themselves to the Home Quarantine Procedures and are not allowed to continue on with farm work, in order to avoid contraction of any disease, illness or the possible contraction of the COVID-19 Disease.
• OPERATION OF GASOLINE STATIONS.
Guidelines are as follows:
1. Gasoline Stations shall remain open as per regular operating schedule;
2. Gasoline Station personnel must observe strict rules on proper wearing of face mask and face shields;
3. Congregating in these establishments is strictly prohibited;
4. These establishments shall observe strict sanitary rules and regulations; and
5. Disinfection of these establishments must regularly be conducted.
• RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES DURING GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE (GCQ).
Exercise and other physical activities such as biking, outdoor “zumbas”, walking and jogging and other activities with limited contact sports, such, but not limited to golf, tennis and table tennis are allowed.
Basketball and other ball games which may require physical contact, fitness gym, and similar activities are prohibited.
Since only the bearer of the Quarantine Pass can go out for essentials and since APOR can only go out for work/service purposes only, all recreations shall be confined within the residence and with household members only.
• LIQUOR BAN.
a. Consumption shall be allowed as long as it is done within the confines of home; drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is strictly prohibited.
b. Selling of alcoholic beverage or liquor shall be allowed but NOT to MINORS or persons twenty (20) years old and below.
c. No mass gathering of more than ten (10) persons.
• MASS GATHERINGS, SUCH AS PARTIES, GET-TOGETHERS, CELEBRATIONS ARE RESTRICTED TO FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY.
Family gatherings with a maximum of ten (10) persons are allowed. Extravagant celebrations and partiesare prohibited.
NO PARTY IN PUBLIC PLACES. Only with members of the household (as long as among household, number of members is irrelevant).
• VIDEOKE OR KARAOKE ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
• INSPECTION PROTOCOLS IN BORDER CHECKPOINT.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) retain its authority to conduct inspection procedures in checkpoints only for ensuring that the minimum standards for health protocols are observed.
• NO MOVEMENT DAY.
No movement day in this Municipality shall be on Sunday and the next Sunday, thereafter. This is to give way to Barangay Cleanup drives and disinfection of critical areas.
All movements and operations of market, food service, agriculture & veterinary, financial service, transportation, utilities, including religious and all other works shall not be allowed except for clinics, pharmacies, funeral parlors (management of the dead only), health and civil frontliners.
• TOURISM.
The Mt. Balungao Hot and Cold Springs Resort/Balungao Hilltop Adventure will remain closed until further notice.
• WAKES: 3 DAYS WAKE.
The immediate family members of the deceased are the only ones who are allowed to attend wake with ten (10) visitors with their Quarantine Pass/APOR at a time only, which will take place for a maximum of three (3) days only.
Drinking of liquor, any form of gambling, band and dance performances, is highly prohibited.
• RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Religious services on regular days are allowed, provided that, ten percent (10%) capacity of their worship/service hall is permitted. Sunday worship/service may be done online. Anticipated worship/service before Sunday is allowed at ten percent (10%) capacity of their worship/service hall.
Religious Group with small groups is allowed to conduct their services within their small groups with only one (1) representative from household or maximum of ten (10) participant in an open area following health protocols.
• QUARANTINE PASS.
The one (1) quarantine pass per household can only be used by only one (1) member of the household for availing essentials goods and services, such as: raw food, agricultural & veterinary services, food service (cooked/processed food), pharmacy, clinic and other financial transactions.
Multiple exit from home either by one person or exchanging members of the household may not be allowed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, in an emergency meeting duly assembled, due to the foregoing COVID-19 situation in Pangasinan and the appeal made by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan through its Pangasinan IATF, and their Executive Order this guidelines shall be in effect immediately and be lifted on September 30, 2021, unless otherwise there be any changes in the imposition of the quarantine classification.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force, shall continue to ensure the health and safety of all the residents of Balungao, Pangasinan, wherefore, copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Office, the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer, the LIGA ng mga Barangay, Balungao, Pangasinan, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Province of Pangasinan for appropriate and immediate action.
APPROVED unanimously.