Capitol Sets Lockdown Exemptions, Assistance TO LGUs

The Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) of the Province of Cebu will start on 12:01AM of Monday, March 30, 2020 as agreed by Cebu local officials during a meeting at the Capitol on Thursday, March 26.

After Executive Order (EO) No. 5-N issued on March 25 banning all incoming international passengers, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia told town and city mayors that other guidelines will be released in 48 hours as the island of Cebu is gradually put on a lockdown.

However, since lockdown means providing rations to households, the governor quickly urged the mayors to prioritize those who were displaced at work as “there wouldn’t be enough for everyone.”

She said the computation of the provincial disaster funds will be based on population and the municipal and city classes.

For the first EO, Garcia will outline guidelines on the ECQ exemptions.

Included in the exemptions are groceries, supermarkets, medical-related establishments, funeral services including immediate family of the deceased, security services, banks, money transfer services, food chains but limited to take-out and drive-thru services, markets, pharmacies, and drugstores.

Since there is no restriction set on the movement of basic goods and commodities, delivery personnel are also exempted from the lockdown.

Also exempted are manufacturing companies involved in producing essential products such as food, water, medicines, hygienic products such as tissue, alcohol, sanitizer and wipes, medical products and personal protective equipment (PPEs) like face masks and gloves.

Personnel of mass media and telecommunications companies, energy companies from generator to transmission and distribution, as well as government employees and government officials are exempted.

Agricultural workers and agribusiness personnel, fishermen, and slaughterhouse personnel are exempted also as these are important in the food supply chain.

Workers in the business process outsourcing and export-oriented companies are part of the exemptions.

Passengers who wish to leave Cebu to go to other provinces are free to travel.

The second EO to be issued by Garcia will be on the prioritization of assistance.

“We have to reserve assistance for the poor and the helpless. Dili ingon nga abi kay lockdown tagaan tanan. Usa ra ba nas misimpression anang lockdown, the governor pointed out.

“But we will never have enough so unahon nato ang displaced workers ug kadtong klarong indigents. Dili kay hasta nang namungingi sa alahas moapil og pangayo og five-kilos rice (referring to the A and B social classes),” she added.

Computation for financial assistance for the first- to third-class component cities is P50 per capita while P100 per capita for fourth- to sixth-classes.

For example, Talisay City, which has a recorded population of 227,645, will receive P10 million.

First-class municipalities will get P100 per capita, P150 for second- and third-classes, and P200 for fourth- and fifth-classes.

For example, Alcantara is a fifth-class municipality with a population of 15,160. This means it will get P3 million.

Sibonga, a second-class municipality with a population of 48,186, will receive P7.2 million.

The displaced workers and highly-marginalized recipients will be identified properly by the Social Welfare Services Office of each local government unit.

Garcia said that additional funds will be provided through a supplemental budget if the crisis continues. (SN)