Tubigon embraces new normal:
Townsfolk express hope amidst the pandemic
Tubigon embraces the new normal brought about by the still looming effects brought by the COVID 19 pandemic.
This economic growth center in this part of Northern Bohol is never remiss with the passing of the latest executive order of Governor Arthur Yap putting the entire province of Bohol under the Modified General Community Quarantine last July 1, 2020. Even when the province was still put in the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) status, business have already opened up and slowly returned to their operations.
MARKET AND SHOPPING OPERATIONS
Tubigon Public Market and Commercial Center has implemented strict quarantine protocols since the GCQ such as setting the market operations from 5:00 AM till 5:00PM, putting up barricades around the premises of the market, mounting common entrance and exit points, scanning the temperatures of the market goers as well sanitizing their hands with alcohol, enforcing the wearing of masks and physical distancing among vendors and shoppers. Market day or popularly known as the “tabo” is still suspended as of the time being.
Even bigger shopping centers like BQ Superstore and Alturas have their share in enforcing strict quarantine measures for the health and safety of their shoppers and patrons. More than the basic protocols, these stores have also reduced their number of operating hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM which used to be until 8:00 PM.
Even convenience shops and small variety stores have done the same. Lolita Raganas of Inato Lang Eatery whose establishment in located in Poblacion, Tubigon have now decided to resume since quarantine measures have eased up under the MGCQ and barangay safety barricades have been removed and diners would have easy access going to her eatery.
FOOD BUSINESSES AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES
A well-established fast food chain in the town, McDonalds expressed their apprehension on the still on-going pandemic and the suspension of sea travel to and from Tubigon as this really drastically reduced their daily sales. These fast food chain has commuters as one of their major market. But due to the pandemic they were forced to closed during the enhanced community quarantine phase of the pandemic but they opened and resume operations during the GCQ last May 15 but limited to take out. They just recently offered the dine-in option last June 17 where the number of dine-in customers are reduced to 50 %. Furthermore, they have established other health and safety protocols among others but notable of which is the requirement of each person who gets inside the store to fill up a health declaration form. This serves as a means for contact tracing.
Even with their limited food offerings, a popular donut and dessert shop, Dunkin Donuts, have also abided by the quarantine protocols. They have also limited their hours and operations to take out only. Now that it’s MGCQ, they allowed dine in customers but only to 50 % capacity. Other cafes such as the popular coffee shop in town, Happy Café have also limited to call in and pick up operations by setting up a pick up kiosk in front of their shop. Small eateries and specialty cafes have also done the same with limited dine in capacity.
Drugstores and pharmacies also followed the same protocols like the groceries and department stores reducing their extended hours
ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS, PENSION HOUSES AND INNS
Our colleagues from the hospitality and tourism sector hasn’t opened up yet since the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) phase. For businesses who rely heavily on the movement of people and travelers from one place to another, the industry has been the first to be hardly hit and the last one to recover.
Since the suspension of sea and air travel during the ECQ, stranded tourists and travelers have gone back to their places aboard those rescue and sweeper flights arranged by their respective embassies and governments. According to Monina Midtown Inn and Restaurant Operations and Marketing Manager, Ms. Marjorie De Vera-Sanico they have suspended operations both in their accommodation and restaurant because there are no guests and tourists.
Another accommodation operator, Mr. Dennis Mc Chesky of Ligayas Pension House have also done the same. He has just a handful foreign guests who were caught by the lockdown and are waiting for their rescue flights going back to their countries.
Upon the joint memorandum of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and Department of Tourism calling those private accommodation establishments whose operations are suspended to be converted as a private quarantine facility for pay for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs).Cabu Beach Resort in Brgy. Cabulijan have submitted to the request of the local government to be made into a private quarantine facility for returning OFWs and locally stranded individuals (LSIs) for its secluded location.
Up until now, even in this town tourism activity is put to standstill until tourists would go back. Popular tourist attractions such as the Tubigon Loomweavers’ Handicraft Center and the Cabgan Islet Bat Sanctuary and the Dallinwell Mountain View Resort are without visitors and tourists. Wendelyn Sanchez- Odermatt of the Dallinwell have decided to still close and hold operations despite some inquiry from townsfolk of going back to operations due to the worry that income wouldn’t be suffice the overhead expenses.
Though the Department of Tourism has issued the operating guidelines for accommodations and restaurants under the new normal, stakeholders are still reluctant to open since there is still no free movement for people getting in and outside the province.
TRANSPORT SECTOR
The town being one of the major seaport and gateway in the province hosts to voluminous passenger traffic per day which ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 passengers per day combined for incoming and outgoing. For now, sea trips are limited to cargo and transporting of both incoming and outgoing LSIs via the Lite Ferrry Shipping Lines.
Land transports and buses are limited to a one seat apart capacity. Van operators have installed plastic shield guards in between seats. Fare prices in vans have increased since passengers bear the cost of those vacated seats.
A SILVER LINING AHEAD
But despite the crisis situation that we are in right now, majority of Tubignons never lose hope and pray that a better and brighter tomorrow is dawning. That everything would go back to how they once were without the fear that there is still this unseen enemy around. Even the town’s local chief executive, Engr. William R. Jao could not help but express his cares and concerns to those who are most affected by the pandemic. “My heart goes to those part of the vulnerable sectors of the society especially those who belongs to the informal economic sectors such as our tricycle drivers and laborers, those who are dependent on the passenger traffic in our port especially those who are in the no work-no pay sector.”, Jao lamented.
“While we are thinking of having another wave of an assistance which will be given to around 13,000 families in form of a rice assistance it is vital that we provide an alternative source of income to these displaced workers. why we organized those displaced port laborers who now became haulers of daily fresh catch of fish from fisher folks who could no longer trade their catch in Cebu due to the continued lockdown there.”, Jao enthused.
Inspite of everything Mayor Jao said in closing that we should unite in hope and prayer that this pandemic will end and use this time to assess our relationship with our fellowmen and with God. Then eventually we would return to the old normal which I would like to call the BETTER NORMAL”, Jao remarked.
Tubigon LGU inspectorate team
conducts series of inspections
The Tubigon LGU Inspectorate team conducts a series of random inspection starting in the major food and shopping establishments in the municipality.
In line with the call of Governor Arthur Yap urging the different local governments on a more stringent and consistent implementation and enforcement of the various health and safety protocols, the team made their first of the series of random inspections starting with the major dining and shopping establishments frequented not just by townsfolk coming from Tubigon but that of the neighboring towns as well.
The Municipal Inter-agency Task Force headed by Mayor William Jao called up last Monday, for a meeting after having learned that the new cases of local transmission are coming from the neighboring towns.
The governor further reiterated that anyone caught violation those previously enforced protocols will be fined and penalized accordingly. Even business owners and operators are directed to enforce these protocols. Thus, team’s random inspection is part of the measures being done by the municipality to ensure that the owners and managements of those businesses are doing their share in the strict enforcement and implementation of such protocols.
Those protocols include observing social distancing, wearing of face masks, observing the curfew hours and other personal protocols such as frequent hand washing and disinfection and staying indoors./ RVD, Tubigon Public Information Office
Groundbreaking ceremony marks the bldg.
of the Tubigon Fire Station at Cahayag
Governor Arthur C. Yap leads the laying of the time capsule during the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Tubigon Bureau of Fire Protection Sub-Station located in Barangay Cahayag.
With him in attendance are; First District Representative, Atty. Edgar M. Chatto, Tubigon’s Local Chief Executive , Engr. William Jao, Vice Mayor Rene Villaber, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bohol Provincial Fire Marshall Fire Chief Inspector Raul Bustaliño, members of the municipal council, local government department heads, BFP personnel, barangay chairmen and council members, barangay police force and health workers of western Tubigon barangays, namely; Cahayag, Pandan, Panadtaran, Banlasan, Villanueva, Panaytayon, Matabao, Ilijan Norte, and Ilijan Sur.
The new modern sub-station would cost around P7 Million and would be constructed in a 400 square meter lot fronting the Cahayag Public market. The lot is donated by the Barangay Cahayag local council.
A sub-station was added in this coastal municipality to address the concern of time delays in responding to fire emergencies in barangays located in this part of the municipality since the main station is located in the town center of this municipality. It would serve the nearby barangays of western Tubigon./RVD, Tubigon Public Information Office