While the City Government of Davao has lifted the social distancing requirement amid the city’s Alert Level 1 status, the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force said private offices and establishments may still impose it along with other restrictions within their premises.
Executive Order (EO) 11, Series of 2022, signed by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on March 7, 2022, earlier lifted the one-meter physical distancing protocol.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said: “Kung gusto gihapon nila ipadayon ang social distancing sa ilang opisina, establishments, and businesses, pwede gyud na kaayo but it will be under the discretion of the private sectors or private owners of the establishments (If they want to continue implementing the social distancing in their offices, establishments, and businesses, they can but it will be under the discretion of the private sectors or private owners of the establishments).”
She said that since EO 11 was released, the city is currently in an “open policy” heading into the normalcy of activities. The city health official, however, said Dabawenyos must not be complacent.
“Ang tumong nato is economic recovery pero we are also pleading. Nagahangyo pud ta sa mga tao na even if we are opening up and heading toward economic recovery dili unta gyud makalimot na naa pa ang COVID-19, so kinahanglan gihapon ta mag-follow og minimum public health standards na wearing of face mask. Technically, ang atoang social distancing wala na nato gi-follow (Our purpose is economic recovery but we are pleading. We are asking people that although we are opening up and heading toward economic recovery, we should not forget that COVID-19 is still around, thus we still have to follow the minimum public health standards, the wearing of face mask. Technically, we no longer enforce the social distancing),” Dr. Schlosser said during the COVID-19 Alert program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
She said that the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force fully defined the 100 percent fully operational, full capacity as pertaining to the 100 percent, pre-pandemic time. Hence, social distancing is no longer mandatory.
She explained that if the city does not lift social distancing, economic recovery won’t be feasible.
Dr. Schlosser added, “We need to let go of social distancing. Pero kay naa gihapon ta’y kalaban, mag wear gihapon ta og face mask ug maghugas og kamot (But since the enemy still lurks, we still need to wear face mask and practice hand hygiene). CIO
