Tag: quarantine passes (QPs)

COVID-19 Crisis: MECQ in effect in Metro Manila until August 31, 2021

COVID-19 Crisis: MECQ in effect in Metro Manila until August 31, 2021

carlocarrasco

Finally, the surprise enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for Metro Manila has ended as the national government announced late Thursday night that the new level of restriction for the metropolis is the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) which is now in effect and will last until August 31, 2021. For the newcomers reading this, MECQ is supposed to be lighter than ECQ when it comes to restrictions.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…

The quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Laguna and Bataan has been downgraded from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to modified ECQ (MECQ), Malacañang announced Thursday.

This, after President Rodrigo Duterte, upon the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EUD), approved the latest quarantine status in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“These latest classifications are without prejudice to the strict implementation of granular lockdowns,” said Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson, in a press statement.

Roque said Metro Manila will be placed under MECQ from Aug. 21 to 31.

Bataan, on the other hand, will be under MECQ from Aug. 23 to 31, he added.

Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan were initially placed under ECQ, the strictest form of community quarantine, due to the spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

Roque stressed that despite the deescalation of quarantine level, religious gatherings should remain “virtual” in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan.

He added that indoor and al-fresco dine-in services, as well as personal care services such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops and nail spas should remain prohibited.

Roque said local government units in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan are likewise directed to improve the vaccination rates within their localities, as well as intensify the “Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) strategies to control the spread of Covid-19.

And here is a related news video to watch…

In an article by the Manila Bulletin, curfew hours in Metro Manila still remain and quarantine passes (QPs) are not required. MECQ also means no cash aid (ayuda) will be released by the national government. There are also other MECQ-related guidelines to follow in another article by the Manila Bulletin. As for the unpopular ban on outdoor exercise approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), that one has ended and therefore the freedom to exercise outside our homes has been restored but to a certain extent.

As seen in the details regarding MECQ, there is no real ease nor positive change for several businesses and churches. Restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores that have tables and chairs are still prohibited from having customers dining inside and on the immediate space outside their joints. In a business sense, this is bad because take-out and delivery services are not good enough for food/beverage sellers to make their ends meet. People of faith, meanwhile, are still literally blocked from worshiping the Lord physically at the venues of their faith communities or ministries. As such, the online form of worship in Metro Manila is still the way but I can tell you from my experience that onsite, physical presence worship of the Lord is the better and more preferable way to worship Him. Online worship has its limits and it lacks the immersion that on-site, physical worship has.

That being said, I encourage you all reading this to pray to God to enlighten all the public officials (from the barangay up to the national level) to look up to Him and come back to Him for His guidance which they really need when it comes to managing the people and their communities as everyone still struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic. The public officials need prayers for the Lord to guide them, strengthen them and prevent them from getting lost.

It should be noted that just days ago, the Metro Manila Council left the decision on community control to national government. Just think about that! Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Benhur Abalos and the mayors met and that was all they could come up with – letting someone else decide for the many millions of people living and struggling in the National Capital Region (NCR).

As such, praying to the Lord to help the public officials is very much needed. It is a fact that each local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila is struggling not only with their respective COVID-19 vaccine operations but also with all other functions.

Also pray to the Lord that the national government will be more accommodating to the businesses and churches that got negatively affected by these community quarantine levels. Pray to the Lord that the employees, the business owners, the people of faith, the pastors and ministries will be assisted and accommodated better.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the shift to MECQ for Metro Manila? If you are a manager or owner of a restaurant or coffee shop, how did the recent ECQ affect you and your employees?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

COVID-19 Crisis: Quarantine Passes (QPs) of local residents are NOT required in Muntinlupa City during ECQ

COVID-19 Crisis: Quarantine Passes (QPs) of local residents are NOT required in Muntinlupa City during ECQ

carlocarrasco

The City Government of Muntinlupa announced that it will not be requiring quarantine passes (QPs) from its residents during the two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila from August 6 – 20, while the local vaccination operations will continue.

Muntinlupa Chief-of-Police PCol Melencio Maddatu Buslig said quarantine passes are not needed during the ECQ and Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) will only need to present a Valid ID. Buslig reiterated that only APORs will be allowed to go out of their residence. He noted that random checkpoints will be installed along the National Road.

PNP Muntinlupa is set to strictly inspect the implementation of health protocols such as wearing of face mask with face shield and guidelines on public transportation. During the ECQ, only 50% of the capacity of jeepneys and buses will be allowed, while one passenger per tricycle and no back ride policy will be implemented.

Meanwhile, members of Muntinlupa City Police Station will mount barricades and cones in the local border quarantine control points located at San Pedro-Tunasan Boundary, Susana Heights Exit, Sucat-Taguig Boundary, and Biazon Road – Alabang Boundary, effective at midnight of August 6.

Further, the Muntinlupa City COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MunCoVac) announced that the vaccination in Muntinlupa will continue regardless of community quarantine classification.

“Magpapatuloy ang vaccination sa Muntinlupa anuman ang klasipikasyon ng community quarantine. Hindi po tayo titigil sa pagbabakuna dahil ito ang depensa natin laban sa Covid-19, ano pa mang variant ito,” MunCoVac posted in its Facebook page.

MunCoVac clarified that city residents with schedule for vaccination will be allowed to go out of their residence during the ECQ. Residents will only need to present the text message from MunCoVac or their vaccination card (scheduled for second dose) to be considered as APOR.

The Muntinlupa City Council passed an ordinance expanding the list of APOR during the ECQ to include persons with confirmed vaccination scheduled from MunCoVac and those who will register in the vaccination center nearest their residence within their respective barangays.

This is in addition to the recognized APOR listed in the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine as of May 20, 2021.  Under the IATF resolution, the list of APOR include: health and emergency frontline services and uniformed personnel, government officials and employees on official travel, duly-authorized humanitarian assistance, persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons, persons going to and from the airport, anyone crossing zones for work in permitted industries, and public utility vehicle operators.

Majority Floor Leader Coun. Raul Corro said the initiative aims to assist in the thrust of the local government to achieve maximum vaccination of the targeted population during the ECQ.

City residents are urged to avail the vaccination service of the local government especially during the ECQ for them to have an added protection against the adverse effects of COVID-19. Muntinlupa City residents may register in the city’s COVID-19 vaccination registration through www.vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac.

As of August 4, there are 326,157 vaccines deployed in Muntinlupa, of which 189,907 are first dose (49.2% of the target) and 140,568 are second dose (36.4% of the target).

The liquor ban will be also reinstated in Muntinlupa during the ECQ as part of the city’s tighter COVID-19 response efforts.

Under City Ordinance No. 2021-216, business establishments that violate the liquor ban will be closed for one week for the first offense and their business permits will be revoked for the second offense.

While persons who are caught selling liquor and other alcoholic beverages will be fined P2,000 for the first offense and P5,000 for the second; and persons who are considered buyers or consumers will be meted P2,500 for the first offense and P5,000 for the second offense.

Curfew hours in Muntinlupa during ECQ will be from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM

As of August 4, Muntinlupa City has 743 active cases, with 14,080 recoveries, 15,213 confirmed cases, 390 reported deaths, 25 suspect cases, and 1,480 probable cases.

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The above information was sourced from the official press release of the Muntinlupa PIO. Some parts were changed for this website.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673