DAVAO ORIENTAL – The province of Davao Oriental shall remain under General Community Quarantine until May 31, 2020.
This was announced by the Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 on Friday following the recommendations released by the Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases which classified Davao Region as moderate risk, therefore placing the whole region under GCQ.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, through Executive Order 22, has issued new policies which was based on the national recommendations and with the agreement made with the Regional Task Force on COVID-19.
Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 Action Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo said that while Davao Oriental has already been placed under GCQ since April 27, basically, the same regulations will be applied in the next two weeks, however, noting on some slight changes in some of the policies covering inter-zonal travels, education, and the opening and the operation of some establishments.
Here are the salient features of the Executive Order 22.
Salient Features
1.Strict observation of the minimum health protocols in workplaces and public places. These include the wearing of face mask, observing physical distancing, regular handwashing, and the regulating the number of people in public spaces through the strict enforcement of the Home Quarantine Pass. Under the GCQ, the security forces are mandated to monitor the implementation of the minimum health standards.
Though the province is currently COVID-free, the Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 reminds the public not to be complacent as the spread of the coronavirus is a serious threat.People who will be entering the borders will need to present a travel manifest. For cargoes, they are required to present certification from their company.
2. Private businesses with large scale operations are allowed to issue their own travel manifest. This will avoid hassle on the movement of construction, food, and other raw materials.
Through a travel manifest, they are required to declare the names of the those aboard and the type of cargo while ensuring there are no backloads or unauthorized passengers aboard. They are still required to undergo screening.
3. People from Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte can now enter the province provided that they present a travel manifest from the Local Government Unit where they are from.
Residents from Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte will no longer be tagged as COVID suspects or Persons Under Monitoring and they will no longer be quarantined. As these two provinces along with the province of Davao Oriental no longer have active cases of the coronavirus, the Governors of the three provinces have agreed to relax restrictions on their respective borders.
However, those areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine are not allowed entry to the province. This restriction also applies to those from Davao City except those who are ferried through Oplan Sundo, part of the skeletal workforce, essential workers, and those who are allowed entry for humanitarian reasons. While allowed to enter, these individuals are still required to undergo screening protocol and risk testing upon entering the province.
Unauthorized persons, particularly those whose purpose is for leisure only are strictly not allowed entry.
4. The use of the Home Quarantine Pass will continue to be implemented. Those who do not have an HQP but need to travel for important transactions will need to secure travel manifest from the office of mayor of their respective LGUs.
5. Curfew will be now start at 9 in the evening until 4 in the morning.
6. Those who are part of the skeletal workforce who are allowed entry to the province and frequently travel from Davao City are required to be subjected to regular swab testing. The provincial government are calling on to these workers to limit travel as much as possible.
7. The target opening of classes for or educational institutions and other higher form of education will open on August 24. However, college students who are complying their requirements can use their valid IDs for official school transactions.
8. Resorts, gyms, massage and spa, tourism destinations, parks, and bars, among others shall persist to be closed.
9. There will be no mass or religious gathering
10. Liquor ban continues to be in effect.
To learn more about the new policies, please see Executive Order 22 through the following link: https://davaooriental.gov.ph/MpVeR
Infographics of the Executive Order 22 in Bisaya dialect is also available.
