Tabuk City, Kalinga — With the decreasing number of Covid-19 in the province, Kalinga is among the areas in the Philippines that were placed under the Alert Level 2 status until November 30.
In the Philippines’ alert level system, alert level 5 has the most heightened restrictions while alert level 1 has more relaxed impositions.
For Alert Level 2 like Kalinga, the guidelines for Nationwide Alert Level System as of 18 Nov 2021 describe that these are the areas where transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing, but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing.
In line with this, Governor Ferdinand Tubban released Executive Order No. 2021 – 47 which he signed this November 23.
What needs to be observed and implemented
Under Section 1 of the said EO, it already allows intrazonal and interzonal movement. However, it stated that reasonable restrictions may be imposed by the LGUs, which should not be stricter as those prescribed under higher alert levels and subject to the oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of their respective RIATF.
As for gaming establishments such as casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and others, they shall not be allowed to operate or be undertaken except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President.
Establishments and activities allowed to operate
Under said EO, there are establishments or activities which are allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 50 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated people and below 18 years old, and even if unvaccinated. As for the outdoor venue capacity, it is at 70 percent maximum.
These establishments and activities are also allowed to operate or be undertaken, provided that all workers or employees are fully vaccinated and the minimum public health protocols are strictly mandated.
Moreover, these buildings and events are allowed to operate and be conducted, provided that there is no objection from the local government unit where they take place.
Activities and establishments covered by these include the following:
a. Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE);
b. Permitted venues for social events;
c. Visitor or tourist attractions;
d. Amusement parks or theme parks;
f. Cinemas and movie houses;
g. Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education subject to prior approval of the Office of the President;
h. Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training;
i. In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased;
j. Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF;
k. Dine-in services of food preparation establishments, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;
l. Personal care establishments, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI;
m. Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for individual non-contact exercises and sports; Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and subject to DTI sector-specific protocols.
n. Film, music, and television production subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH;
o. Contact sports approved by the LGU where such games shall be held;
p. Funfairs/peryas or kid amusement industries;
q. Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences; and
r. Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household
Meantime, as for the government agencies and instrumentalities, they will remain to be fully operational, and that they should adhere to 50 percent on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible working arrangements.
What the province will continue to implement
Under Section 2 of the Executive Order, the province shall continue to ramp up its vaccination efforts; improve implementation of engineering and administrative controls, especially ventilation standards and actions against crowding and gatherings; and it shall also continue to promote health and strict implementation of the minimum health protocols.
Also, the province shall implement localize community quarantine as well as the ramping up of the availability of identified quarantine facilities in priority or critical areas with community transmission. This also includes private and public establishments, with the concurrence of the members of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force.
Additionally, there shall also be immediate facility-based isolation of all the returning citizens, suspect, and probable cases, and the isolation of people with symptoms and the ones awaiting their covid-19 test results.
There shall also be continuous health education on Covid-19 transmission.
Moreover, the province shall continue to scale up the local health system's capacity, especially for community isolation and critical care.
Lastly, the province shall also submit complete and accurate data through the Covid-Kaya and DOH Data Collect.
People found violating the provisions of Executive Order No. 2021 – 47 ‘shall be subjected to administrative sanctions, without prejudice to the prosecution of criminal action(s) if probable cause exists.
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