THE LOCAL government on Monday issued an executive order for the updated COVID-19 protocols for the city.
Section 1 of the EO stated the following are minimum public health standards that must be observed in all public places:
1) Face mask covering the nose and mouth;
2) Physical distancing of not less than one meter;
3) Availability of handwashing area with soap and water or alcohol.
SECTION 2. FACE SHIELD. Executive Order No. 65-A series of 2020 is hereby reiterated.
SECTION 3. AGE AND HEALTH RISK RESTRICTIONS. Paragraph A, IATF Resolution No. 79, Series of 2020, October 15, 2020, and Section 4 (3) of the Omnibus Guidelines in the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines dated February 11, 2021, are adopted as follows:
Any person below 15 years old, those who are 65 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, shall be required to remain in their residences at all times, except when INDISPENSABLE under the following circumstances:
a. For obtaining goods and essential services;
b. For work or business in permitted industries and offices;
c. Attending essential meetings and social events;
d. Conducting non-contact sports and exercise, and
e. Essential travel including attending burial, going to the doctor and other equally important activities.
SECTION 4. QUARANTINE. The General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) is the all-encompassing Stay Home order for all residents not covered by Section 3 hereof, except the following individuals:
a. Going out for work;
b. Going out for business;
c. Accessing essential goods and services;
d. Attending essential meetings and social events;
e. Conducting non-contact sports and exercise; and
f. Essential travel including but not limited to attending burial, going to the doctor and other equally important activities.
SECTION 5. CONTACT TRACING. Executive Order No. 60 series of 2020 as amended by Executive Order No. 02 series of 2021 is hereby reiterated. The mandatory use of the Safe Davao QR shall be implemented for the push notification feature of contact tracing.
SECTION 6. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS. Paragraph D (1) and (2) of IATF Resolution No. 101, Series of 2021, February 26, 2021, is hereby adopted:
The Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) and StaySafe.ph shall be used whenever applicable.
SECTION 7. PROHIBITION ON MASS GATHERING. A gathering of more than twenty-five (25) individuals for a single event or activity in all public places is considered a mass gathering and shall not be allowed except those covered by Section 8 hereof.
A gathering of less than twenty-five (25) participants in all public places do not need to seek a permit from the City Mayor’s Office (CMO) or pay fees unless required by pertinent laws and ordinances.
A letter with the event details by email or hard copy shall suffice for the purposes of inspection to the compliance of the MPHS in Section 1 hereof.
SECTION 8. ESSENTIAL MEETINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS. The Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2021-001 of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is hereby adopted. The same JMC shall be used as a guide to the establishments not accredited by the DOT but are issued Tourism Certificates by the City Tourism Operations Office.
Except those who are required by laws and ordinances to get a permit and pay a fee, there is no need to seek permission from the City Mayor’s Office for the conduct of the events that are already clearly laid out in the DOT-DTI JMC 2021-001.
SECTION 9. OTHER GATHERINGS. Other gatherings in public places not covered by Section 8 hereof shall be guided by the following:
* A gathering shall be allowed up to 25 guests/participants except where the event is exhibit type;
* Parade, motorcades, rallies, and other gatherings in public places are absolutely prohibited. The right to free speech and expression in freedom parks shall be respected but the event must be limited to 25 individuals and must be supervised by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the City Health Office (CHO) to ensure that Section 1 hereof is implemented.
* Government distribution of food or financial assistance can be increased to fifty (50) individuals at a time provided that Section 1 hereof can be strictly implemented.
SECTION 10. OFFICE MEETINGS. All meetings of government and private offices and establishments conducted inside their premises shall use online platforms. A face-to-face meeting of more than five (5) individuals shall be prohibited.
SECTION 11. LAND, SEA AND AIR TRAVEL. IATF Resolution No. 101, series of 2021 is hereby adopted.
All arriving travelers shall be required the following:
* Pass the symptom screening test upon arrival. Travelers exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 shall be held for testing in the facility operated by the City Government.
* Valid Safe Davao QR (DQR). No other document or identification shall be required for entry into Davao City. The online link of the DQR for individuals is: ( https://profiles.safe-davao.com )
The conduct of random testing in travelers shall be implemented by the Health group of the Response Cluster of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force.
SECTION 12. TRAVELERS IN TRANSIT. All arriving travelers that are bound for other cities and municipalities must arrange their own public or private transportation.
SECTION 13. CATEGORIZATION OF BUSINESSES FOR OPERATIONAL CAPACITY. DTI Memorandum Circular No. 21-08 series of 2021 and all its Annexes are hereby adopted.
SECTION 14. FUNERAL PARLORS AND CEMETERIES. Executive Order No. 11 series of 2021 is hereby reiterated.
SECTION 15. PLACES OF WORSHIP. Section 4 (12) for GCQ and 5 (5) for MGCQ of the IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated February 11, 2021, are adopted as follows:
Religious gatherings in areas under GCQ or MGCQ shall be allowed up to 50% of the seating capacity. Provided that, the religious gathering shall be limited to the conduct of religious worship and/or service.
Additional regulations are as follows:
* The distance between individuals should not be less than one (1) meter;
* Community singing shall not be allowed. A solo singer is allowed but should be situated more than three meters away from other individuals;
* Electric fans and aircon units must be turned-off whenever applicable in the venue design;
* Members who are covered by Section 3 hereof must be provided with online, radio or television prayer opportunities.
SECTION 16. CITY GOVERNMENT WET MARKETS. Public wet markets shall be open from Monday to Sunday from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SECTION 17. FOOD AND MEDICINE PASS / OTHER DOCUMENTS. The use of the FM pass and other documents for travel/movement shall be temporarily suspended and the DQR shall be the only document that will be used to access goods and essential services.
SECTION 18. OTHER ALTERNATIVE WORK ARRANGEMENTS. Executive Order No. 10 series of 2021 is hereby reiterated.
SECTION 19. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Face-to-face or in-person classes shall be prohibited from kindergarten to post-graduate level until a new order shall be issued to lift the ban. Limited face-to-face or in-person attendance for Higher Educational Institutions and Post-Graduate courses is allowed for the purposes of examinations and laboratory learning provided that the distancing of not less than one meter between individuals is strictly observed. Gathering for eating, meeting or group practice is strictly prohibited.
SECTION 20. TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING. Section 4 (11) (c) for General Community Quarantine and Section 5 (6) for Modified General Community Quarantine of the IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated February 11, 2021, and other issuances by TESDA shall be adopted for TVET.
SECTION 21. CURFEW AND LIQUOR BAN. Executive Order No. 5 series of 2021 is hereby reiterated.
SECTION 22. NON-CONTACT SPORTS, OTHER EXERCISE. Section 4 (13) for General Community Quarantine and Section 5 (4) for Modified General Community Quarantine of the IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated February 11, 2021, are hereby adopted.
SECTION 23. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision of this Executive Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.
SECTION 24. REPEALING CLAUSE. All Orders or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
The order shall take effect on 12:01 a.m. of March 15, 2021.
