The question on who are exempted from the land travel ban is yet to be answered as the Inter-Agency Task Force in charge of the COVID-19 containment finalizes guidelines for the resolution on the community quarantine of the National Capital Region (NCR).
The task force is meeting Friday to address if Metro Manila workers, those seeking medical attention, government officials, and others living outside the region will be allowed to travel.
“Kasi if you look at our guidelines, ang (the) general rule: No domestic land, sea, air travel. Sa land travel, no travel to and from Metro Manila. Tapos may exemptions, ‘yun pag-uusapan today (Then there are exemptions which will be discussed today).
Ano (What are the) exemptions, pasiyente (patients), workers, government officials, private sector. Paano exemptions doon (how are the exemptions for those)?” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.
Showing of identification cards at the mega city limits will also be discussed in the meeting.
Nograles also pointed out that the use of the term “community quarantine” is more apt instead of “lockdown” as the latter connotes blockage of food supplies for the region while the former restricts movements in the region.
The secretary said at the Laging Handa press briefing that the public must not panic as food and primary goods will be continuously supplied to supermarkets and retailers in Metro Manila.
“We would like to stress that the transport of goods to Metro Manila and provinces vice versa will remain subject to guidelines. This means that residents of NCR should not worry about supplies of food in grocery, retailers,” he said.
Consumers have currently been flocking to supermarkets and some have been insisting on buying alcohol beyond the cap of two per person.
Trade Secretary Lopez enlightened that the ‘customer is always right” notion is not absolute or set in stone. He added that store managers may always resort to escorting the customers out of the store if they do not abide by the rules.
Lopez added that hoarding and overpricing have corresponding penalties and criminal charges.
Meanwhile, some cabinet members reminded that social distancing must be imposed in grocery stores, and that managers can opt to control the volume of customers to prevent overcrowding.
Under the orders of President Duterte, the DTI will work with the NBI and PNP to ensure that customers and business owners follow the said guidelines.
The resolution of the IATF that contains guidelines will be forwarded to the President and will be followed by the publication of a memorandum once approved. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
