Davao City shifts to GCQ, few lockdown measures eased

The Davao City government has relaxed some of the lockdown measures to allow the reopening of the business activities and offices but life is far from normal with the movement of people remains restricted.

This as Mayor Inday Sara Duterte announced the shift to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) effective on Saturday, May 16, 2020 – a month after the city was put under an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Mayor Inday made effective her new Executive Order relaxing rules to partially open the city’s economy but the movement of people remains regulated as the coronavirus outbreak in the city is not over yet.

The EO underlines some movement restrictions, curfew hour, and use of the Food and Medicine (FM) pass under the GCQ.

As Mayor Inday earlier advised Dabawenyos “manage your expectations under a GCQ”. Dabawenyos are also advised to remain cautious.

In her EO, the clustering of barangays in a district is lifted for purposes of travel but people are advised to avoid areas categorized as very high-risk areas, high-risk areas, and medium risk areas based on risk assessment made. A list of these risk areas will be published.

Also lifted is the schedule of the ban of trucks along the highways.

For other vehicles, physical distancing must be implemented such as seating arrangement with barriers in public utility vehicles; one driver, one passenger in front and one at the back for taxi cab, private vehicle, and tricycle; single rider for motorcycle and bicycle; and, free bus rides from the government will be provided.

All passengers in public and private transports are still required to present GCQ exempted employee ID or FM pass while private vehicle drivers are also required to present employee ID or certification from the employer and a photocopy or mobile phone photo of the employer’s ID.

Liquor ban and movements remain restricted. Curfew hour also stays from 9 p.m to 5 a.m. except for those with GCQ and curfew exempted workers.

The EO states that no one can come out of their house except those using FM pass or those allowed to work under GCQ. Those allowed to work are cited in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Memorandum Circular 20-22 series of 2020 and its annexes.

All other private offices and business establishments which are not exempted to work may operate a home office or adapt a work from home system for their employees. They are not allowed to open to the public or accept clients or customers in their houses.

Sari-sari stores should close from 6 p.m to 6 a.m and wet markets/palengkes must be closed from 5 p.m for daily disinfection.

Also not allowed to go out are those in the vulnerable sector – persons below 21 years old, those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency comorbidities, or health risks, and pregnant women. They can only go out when indispensable under circumstances (senior living alone, emergency, visit clinics), for obtaining goods and services or for work in permitted industries and offices.

The FM pass remains regulated that it will only be used (with a valid ID) to buy food and medicine or go to the hospital. FM passes with the last digits 1,3,5,7,9 can only be used on Monday, Wednesday, Friday while those with last digits 0,2,4,6,8 can be used only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday from 5 a.m to 9 p.m. FM pass cannot be used on Sunday.

Mayor Inday reiterated that the GCQ guidelines conform to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Omnibus Guidelines Section 3 on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, and the DTI Memorandum Circular 20-22. CIO