- MMC adopts resolution
- DOTR limits PUV passengers
Metro Manila mayors have agreed to impose a nine-hour curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. while the National Capital Region is under lockdown to arrest the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a resolution adopted by the Metro Manila Council, which counts as members all 17 Metro Manila mayors, malls and commercial establishments were likewise requested to temporarily halt operations to prevent non-essential movement within the metropolis.
“Mayors of NCR, acting in unity with the national government, in order to preserve and protect the lives and health of their constituents, do hereby declare and promulgate, acting as one body in the Metro Manila Council, strongly recommend to all Local Legislative Councils of the NCR to issue ordinances for curfew from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am subject to their necessary guidelines as they deem necessary,” said the resolution read by San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora on Saturday.
“We passed a resolution and it was unanimously approved. No one disagreed, so we will be having a curfew in Metro Manila,” said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Jojo Garcia.
While the lockdown takes effect today (March 15) Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the curfew will take effect Monday at the earliest as ordinances must still be issued by the local governments involved.
But Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the MMC resolution is still subject to the approval of the President. “The President has yet to consider it,” Panelo said.
As for the proposed mall closures, Zamora said businesses offering essential services will be exempted, such as groceries, pharmacies, restaurants with home deliveries, banks, and those offering medical services.
The Department of Transportation on Saturday also rolled out the social distancing measures it will implement for the duration of the lockdown or community quarantine:
– LRT Lines 1 and 2 and MRT-3 will operate at a reduced capacity of 25 percent – from 1,000 passengers daily to only about 200 to 300;
– Provincial buses and inter-regional trips of jeepneys and UV Express to and from Metro Manila shall be terminated at entry points as identified by the Philippine National Police.
• All domestic flights to and from Metro Manila will cease operations and will be diverted to Sangley and Clark airports, with the exception of cargo flights, air ambulances, government or military flights, maintenance and utility flights, and weather mitigation flights;
• Passenger ships and maritime vessels will be prohibited from traveling to and from Metro Manila as the Philippine Coast Guard adopts a “no-sail zone;”
• Public utility jeepneys are only allowed to carry half of their regular capacity, including the driver;
• Public utility buses are only allowed to carry a maximum of 25 passengers, including driver and conductor;
• Taxis and transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) should not have more than four passengers, including the driver; and
• UV Express should not have more than six passengers inside, including the driver.
All passengers entering and exiting Metro Manila must present not only a valid company ID (showing place of work) but also a government-issued ID (showing place of residence).
Año also appealed to religious leaders to suspend their mass or worship services during the duration of the quarantine that will last until April 14.
“We are under a public health emergency – the first time in our history. We need to act fast, otherwise the World Health Organization projects we will have 75,000 COVID cases and we do not have the resources to meet that kind of emergency. Thus, the best course of action now is to stop the spread and save the lives of our people,” he said.
All movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work-related gatherings will likewise be strictly prohibited within Metro Manila.
Starting today, local chief executives across the country are banned from traveling abroad for the duration of the lockdown, Año said, to allow them to focus on the efforts to stem the spread of the infection.
“Focus on your constituents. Cockfighting operations are hereby suspended as well as road clearing operations so you can keep your focus,” he said.
For its part, the Department of Labor and Employment appealed to businesses not to close shop and to use “flexible work arrangement” to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued Advisory No. 11 that supplements the flexible work arrangement and allows workers living outside the National Capital Region to enter for the duration of the community quarantine.
Año also asked employers to consider releasing the 13th month of employees who will be affected by the lockdown.
Outside Metro Manila, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia prohibited the entry of domestic passengers in Cebu via air travel from Clark, Legazpi City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Dumaguete City.
The Cebu City government also adopted a curfew starting yesterday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Domestic travel to and from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan have also been cancelled starting today until April 14.
Travel to Bohol island province has been suspended for five days starting March 16 to March 20.
Oriental Mindoro has undergone “community quarantine” and will ban entry into the province until March 25 after its neighboring province, Batangas, confirmed fresh COVID-19 cases.