A day after Gov. Arthur Yap announced that Bohol will be under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) which is supposed to start tomorrow, June 1, 2020, the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) reveals that Bohol has to remain under general community quarantine (GCQ).
The IATF has come up with Resolution No. 41, series of 2020 dated May 29, 2020 and went public only yesterday, May 30, 2020. The provincial government has no choice but to obey the directive of the IATF and abandon the implementation of the MGCQ.
In this resolution No. 41, it is mentioned that Bohol, together with Cebu province, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-lapu City are to be under the GCQ. Under the resolution, the GCQ status will remain in effect until June 15, 2020.
Bohol is under GCQ until today May 31, 2020 per Executive Order No. 28, issued by Yap back in April 2020. It is expected that with the GCQ extending until June 15, the prevailing situations and conditions will remain.
In the same resolution, all places in the province are expected to observe the enforcement of minimum public health standards, and strict localized community quarantine. Local chief executives may impose localized quarantine in select areas or establishments with the concurrence of the regional IATF.
With the new mandate from the IATF, the pronouncement of Yap about Bohol under MGCQ during Friday’s press conference becomes moot and academic.
It can be recalled that Yap announced on Friday, from June 1 to 15 that Bohol is under MGCQ. On that day, Yap mentioned several modifications in the GCQ that supposedly are to be observed in the conduct of the MGCQ.
Under the MGCQ, the following guidelines are to supposedly to be followed in Bohol.
a) Boholanos still need to follow public health standards like social distancing, wearing of face masks, and observance of cleanliness stipulated under Executive Order (EO) No. 8 and No. 15;
b) Indoor and outdoor non-contact sports and exercises like walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton and skateboarding are allowed as long as public health standards are followed. There should be no borrowing of equipment. The playing of basketball is not allowed;
c) Essential establishments like hospitals, drugstores, agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, supermarkets, grocery stores, food delivery services, media, dental clinics, veterinary clinics, banks, money transfer and remittance centers, pawnshops, telecommunications companies, internet and cable service providers, energy and power companies, water supply, sanitation and waste disposal services, electronic and commerce companies, legal, auditing, accounting and financial consulting services, other non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments, and business process outsourcing will remain open;
d) Restaurants and fastfood chains will remain open, although dine-in operations are still prohibited. If the establishment wants to have dine-in operations at half of its capacity, the establishment needs to approach their respective mayor and show capability to follow the minimum health standards and guidelines set by the IATF. The mayor is the one to provide the clearance to the establishment to have dine-in operations at half of its capacity;
e) Barber shops, salons and other personal care service establishments will remain open and may only accommodate only the number of customers corresponding to half of the venue‘s capacity and will still follow minimum health standards;
f) Public and private transportation services will still operate and follow social distancing, disinfection of vehicle, and follow the guidelines from the Department of Transportation;
g) Suspension of face-to-face classes and co-curricular activities will still be in place;
h) As regards mass gatherings, a consultation with the mayors will be done first. It is important that the situation will be understood and agreed upon by our mayors as they will be the ones who will implement the protocols in the conduct of mass gatherings. While there is still no final decision, mass gatherings like sports and civic events connected but not limited to foundation days and sectoral activities, fiesta celebrations, concerts or entertainment performances are still prohibited;
i) Under IATF Resolution No. 38, there is a need to wait for upcoming IATF issuance with regards to religious gatherings, church services, and Eucharistic celebrations.
The general curfew in Bohol remains enforced from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am.
Moreover, Yap said that the minors can now go out on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, provided that they are accompanied by their parents or guardians. The same schedule remains for senior citizens whereby they are allowed to go out from their homes.