Mayor Sara Duterte has ordered a ban on all welcome and send-off groups at airports, seaports, bus terminals, and other transportation hubs in the city.
“Welcome and send-off parties or groups in the entry points of the city, even at the parking lots are permanently banned. All greetings shall be made at your respective residences,” Duterte said in her statement during a press conference on Monday at City Hall.
The permanent banning order takes effect today.
But she also said that the said order is not only because of the virus, but for the safety and security of the city as well.
“Only employees, workers, drivers and passengers who have transactions inside are allowed in these (seaports, airports, terminals) places,” she said.
Passengers can be dropped off and picked up by private or public transport drivers only. Passengers who are senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities are the only individuals allowed with assistants.
“Even with private cars, they are not allowed to go inside the ports and terminals,” she said.
“The convergence of people who are not mentioned in the banning guideline, in any part of the port or terminal, is strictly not allowed,” she stressed.
She also said that high-ranking national government officials, guests of the government, and members of the diplomatic and consular groups are allowed with security personnel.
Taxi, Grab and other ride-sharing vehicles, bus, and van drivers must wear masks, and ensure that they clean and disinfect vehicles before and after delivery of passengers to their destinations, she added.
