Stricter rules set on entry to Sagada under GCQ

A member of the Police force here inspects the documents of an outgoing vegetable dealer at the Pegew checkpoint. 

By Gina Dizon  

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Mobility in this tourist town eases with the opening of transport as Mountain Province was classified under general community quarantine (GCQ) but rules on entry shall be made more stringent, Sagada Mayor James Pooten Jr. said in accordance to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act allowing local governments units to exercise their local autonomy.  

This, as the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF)-Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (MEID) shall soon meet to finalize the guidelines on  moderate to low-risk Covid areas being GCQ while the national capital region remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Sagada is entered from four road inlets: Dantay-Sagada road from the Bontoc-Baguio road, Sabangan-Sagada road via Madepdeppas-Taccong road, Sagada-Besao road and Balili-Suyo road from Bontoc-Baguio Road.

               The town has remained Covid free with no cases of probable or persons under investigation (PUIs) after nine PUIs completed their 14 - day quarantine period and all tested negative of Covid-19.

Sagada is under a Covid-prevention state with remaining seven possible cases or persons under monitoring (PUM) under home quarantine who shall be completing their 14-day quarantine this week.  

               Pooten in an interview is anxious of persons from nearby Covid-infected Baguio, Benguet, Abra, and Ilocos Sur who may wish to visit the town with the opening of transport services.
               As it is,Baguio has 28  Covid -infected cases,Benguet with 9 and Abra with three Covid-infected case.  

The Sagada Operators and Drivers Association (SODA) shall be holding their meeting and we look forward to what they say, Pooten said.   

This with updates that one from nearby Ifugao was recently infected with Covid 19.

              Temperature check, wearing of masks, and washing of hands are still mandatory at the checkpoint at the one entry point at Pegew where passes for health declaration, municipal, barangay and food are checked before entry. 

Passengers and drivers who attempt to enter the town are subjected to a 14- day quarantine at Pegew quarantine site where they come from Covid-infected areas. 

Decontamination of vehicles at Pegew checkpoint is still being done, Pooten said.

              Identification cards are required from authorized persons outside residence (APOR) from food delivery, health and emergency services, energy and communication services.

Sagada is one among the towns of Mountain Province that are Covid-free along with provinces of Apayao and Kalinga in the Cordillera.

Mountain Province is entered from five road entrances – Bontoc- Ifugao, Bontoc-Kalinga, Bontoc- Baguio, Tadian-Cervantes Ilocos Sur and Paracelis-Isabela.    

The declaration of ECQ in moderate to low Covid-risk areas in the country has come up with lessened restrictions from the Covid-high risk earlier enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) effective May 1,2020.

               Luzon was earlier put under ECQ.    

In a public announcement, recommendatory guidelines for areas under GCQ were announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque last week.

While this is so, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMC) Officer Edward Chumawar said Mountain Province is awaiting guidelines  from IATF-MEID and concerned department  agencies.  

From Roque’s announcement, GCQ means the general public may go out to buy basic necessities.

              People below 21 years old and those above 60 and those with ages ranging from 21 years but below 60 but who are health risks shall stay home.

Non-leisure stores in malls and shopping centers may partially open.

Non-workers can go out to buy essential goods and for services except those on leisure.

Public transportation is at reduced capacity in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the Dept. of Transportation.

Local government units shall enforce curfew at night to non-workers.

High school and higher education institutions this school year may continue classes to finish the academic year and issue credentials in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the Commission on Higher Education.

The opening of classes in September was recommended.

Priority and essential construction projects will be allowed to resume subject to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) guidelines.

                Guidelines for opening of work in GCQ areas by industry are a 100% in
agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food manufacturing, supply chain for ink/printing, and raw materials, restaurant, food retail, manufacturing, logistics, hospital, water, telecom, media, energy and internet.

GCQ allows 50-100% opening for other manufacturing on electronic, exports, e-commerce, delivery, repair and maintenance, housing and office services.

Work from home namely financial services, BPO, other non-leisure trade and services are opening at 50%.

Leisure, amusement, fitness, tourism, mass and religious gathering are totally restricted.

Meantime, the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) shall be reprioritized to ECQ areas.