No NCR lockdown – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — There would be no lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the next two weeks amid the continuous increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. branded as “false” the reports which circulated in social media yesterday that the government task force handling the COVID-19 pandemic has decided to implement a “circuit breaker” lockdown initially for a period of two weeks.

“False,” Roque told reporters when asked about the text circulating that the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) held a press briefing purportedly for the alleged lockdown.

At an official press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps last Friday, Roque outlined the stricter guidelines approved by the IATF during their meeting last Thursday.

In addition to the uniform curfew imposed in Metro Manila, the IATF has also reiterated the need to observe minimum health standards of social distancing, wearing of face masks and shields at all times.

From March 22 to April 4, the IATF ordered the reduction of the allowable number of persons at 30 percent of venue capacity. The IATF has ordered the temporary suspension of operations of driving schools, traditional cinemas and video- and interactive-game arcades, libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers.

“Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition events shall be limited to essential business gatherings at 30 percent venue capacity,” the IATF Resolution no. 103 read.

“Religious gatherings shall also observe 30 percent of venue capacity provided that there is no objection from local government unit (LGU) where the religious gathering may take place. Provided further, that such LGUs have the discretion to allow higher venue capacity not exceeding 50 percent based on conditions in their localities,” the IATF said.

The IATF also ordered the reduction to maximum of 50 percent of capacity for dine-in restaurants, cafes, personal care services, while national government agencies are encouraged to defer the conduct of non-critical activities that would entail mass gatherings.

Cockfighting and cockpit operations are also suspended, including in areas under modified general community quarantine.

To ensure that the measures are strictly followed, the IATF also empowered the LGUs to issue their own regulations subject to the needs of their respective barangays.

Foreigners not allowed

The government also temporarily suspended the entry of foreigners in the country from March 21 to April 21. All Filipinos are still allowed to return to the Philippines subject to IATF quarantine rules and immigration regulations.

On Friday, Roque said the IATF is suspending entry of foreign nationals except for diplomats and members of international organizations and their dependents provided that they hold a valid 9 (e) visa or 47 (a)(c) visa at the time of entry.

Foreign nationals involved in medical repatriations duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are also exempted from the temporary travel ban.

Also exempted are foreign seafarers under the “green lanes” program for crew change, provided that they hold a 9(c) crew list visa at the time of entry and emergency, humanitarian and other analogous cases approved by the chair of the NTF COVID-19 or his duly authorized representative, provided the foreign nationals have valid visas at the time of entry.

“The foregoing is without prejudice to immigration laws, rules and regulations such that the Commissioner of Immigration shall have the exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for all foreign nationals authorized entry under relevant IATF resolutions, subject to regular reporting to the IATF Secretariat at the end of each calendar month,” the IATF said.

“The entry of all of the foregoing shall still be subject to such daily limit of incoming passengers as may be imposed by the Department of Transportation,” it added.