EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 41
Series of 2021

AN ORDER DE-ESCALATING THE ENTIRE PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE TO ALERT LEVEL 2 IN THE ALERT LEVEL SYSTEM FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE BEGINNING 15 NOVEMBER 2021 UNTIL 30 NOVEMVER 2021, PROVIDING FOR ITS IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE

WHEREAS, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the nationwide implementation of the Alert Level System for COVDI-19 response through his issuance of Executive Order No. 151, s. 2021;

WHEREAS, the nationwide shift to the Alert Level System would allow for the reinvigoration of the economy through the opening of more sectors, while providing the people’s health through the continuous observance of public health protocols and interventions and the heightened implementation of lockdowns in smaller areas, also know as granular lockdown;

WHEREAS, the IATF Resolution No. 146-A, s. 2021 dated 28 October 2021 declared Davao del Norte Province, among other areas in the country to be placed under Alert Level 3 in the rollout of the Alert Level System for COVID-19 response in Davao Region beginning 20 October 2021 until 14 November 2021;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the nationwide implementation of the Alert Level System, the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte issued Executive Order No. 39, series of 2021 to place all cities and municipalities of the province under Alert Level 3 beginning 20 October 2021;

WHEREAS, the IATF through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on 14 November 2021, declared that Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao City, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental shall be de-escalated to Alert Level 2 in the Alert Level System for COVID-19 response,

NOW THEREFORE, I, EDWIN I. JUBAHIB, Governor of the Province of Davao del Norte by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following:

Section 1. Declaration. The Province of Davao del Norte shall be de-escalated to Alert Level 2 in the Alert Level System for COVID-19 response, pursuant to the recommendations of the National IATF beginning 15 November 2021 until 30 November;

Section 2. Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this Order, the following terms are hereby defined as follows:

a) COVID-19 Alert Level System – refers to the new Community Quarantine Classifications for dealing with COVID-19 covering entire Provinces, cities, municipalities, and/or regions in the country aimed to manage and minimize the risk of the disease through System Indicators, Triggers and Thresholds determined by the IATF to specify the public health and social measures to be taken in relation to the COVID-19 response, as may be updated based on new scientific knowledge, information about the effectiveness of control measures in the country and overseas, and its application.

b) Alert Level 2 – refers to the status of the area wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing;

c) Granular Lockdown – refers to a micro-level quarantine for areas identified as “critical zones” by the Local Government Unit (LGU) which may be declared regardless of Alert Level.

d) Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) – refers to the national, local, and sector-specific guidelines on mitigation measures for its COVID-19 response across all settings by implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), consistent with DOH Administrative Order No. 2021-0043 or the Omnibus Guidelines on the Minimum Public Health Standards for the Safe Reopening of Institutions. This term shall also encompass specific NPIs of community mitigation strategies or public health measures that do not involve vaccines, medications, or other pharmaceutical interventions, that individuals and communities can carry out in order to reduce transmission rates, contact rates, and the duration of infectiousness of individuals in the population.

Section 3. General Guidelines for Alert Level 2. The following protocols shall be observed in the entire Province while on Alert Level 2, except for portions under granular lockdown:

1. Intrazonal and interzonal movement shall be allowed. However, reasonable restrictions may be imposed by the LGUs, which should not be stricter as those prescribed under higher alert levels and subject to the oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of their respective RIATF;

2. Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments shall not be allowed to operate, or be undertaken in areas classified under Alert Level 2 except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President;

3. The following establishments and/or activities shall be allowed to operate, or to be undertaken at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated; and 70% outdoor venue capacity. Provided, that all workers/employees of these establishments are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and MPHS shall be strictly maintained. Provided further, that there is no objection from the LGU where these activities may take place:

a) Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MCE);

b) Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers;

c) Visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like;

d) Amusement parks or theme parks;

e) Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues;

f) Cinemas and movie houses;

g) Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education subject to prior approval of the Office of the President;

h) Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training;

i) In-person religious gatherings, gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased;

j) Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF;

k) Dine-in services in food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and cafeterias, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;

l) Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI;

m) Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols. Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and that no group activities are conducted;

n) Film, music, and television production subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH;

o) Contact sports approved by the LGU where such games shall be held;

p) Funfairs/peryas or kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides;

q) Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters; and

r) Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household;

4. The use of the Quick Response (QR) Code scanning in all private and public establishments and entry points in the province shall continue to be in effect.

5. Agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall remain to be fully operational and shall adhere to at least 30% on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.

6. Local Chief Executives may implement localized health measures and protocols applicable to their respective jurisdiction, provided they are not stricter as those prescribed under higher alert levels and pursuant to the existing guidelines set forth by the IATF;

Section 4. Authority to Declare Granular Lockdown. The authority to impose granular lockdown shall be given to the city and municipal mayors with respect to their component barangays, subject to the concurrence of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF), and individual houses where one household member has been confirmed, residential buildings, streets, blocks, puroks, subdivisions, and/or villages within their jurisdiction.

Section 5. General Guidelines for the Implementation of Granular Lockdown. The following protocols shall be observed for the declaration and implementation of granular lockdown:

a) Epidemiological parameters in the declaration of a granular lockdown, including specific interventions and activities to be conducted in such areas, shall comply with the National IATF COVID-19 Memorandum Circular No. 2 dated 15 June 2020 or the Operational Guidelines on the Application of the Zoning Containment Strategy in the Localization of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Response;

b) Granular lockdown shall be for a period of not less than 14 days;

c) The declaration of granular lockdown by the Local Chief Executive shall be provisionally effective immediately and shall include due notice to the Regional IATF, who in turn shall immediately act on the said declaration;

d) The IATF retains its mandate to impose and/or lift lockdown on highly urbanized cities and independent component cities in accordance with Executive Order No. 112, s. 2020;

e) The Philippine National Police within the jurisdiction of the LGU shall ensure peace and order at all times; and make sure that security protocols are maintained in lockdown areas;

f) The list of Authorized Persons Outside Residences (APORs) under the IATF Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, shall not apply in areas under granular lockdown. Only Health Care Workers (HCWs) and non-health personnel working in hospitals, laboratories, dialysis facilities, and community healthcare workers if their institution are unable to provide accommodation for their personnel, and uniformed personnel task to enforce the granular lockdown, shall be allowed to move within, into, and out of the area under granular lockdown;

g) The following shall be allowed to enter and/or exit regular lockdown areas for specific purposes:

1. Overseas Filipino workers bound for international travel, and those returning to their respective residences after having completed facility-based quarantine upon arrival;

2. Individuals whose home or residence are located within an area under granular lockdown may enter the said area for the sole purpose of returning to their respective homes or residences but must thereafter remain therein for the duration of the granular lockdown;

3. Individuals under exceptional circumstances such as, but not limited to, those seeking urgent medical attention as validated by the Municipality/City Health officer; and

4. Food and essential items provided that they can only be picked up and/or unloaded at border collection points designated by LGU;

h) Households within area under granular lockdown shall be provided assistance by their respective LGUs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in accordance with their relevant guidelines; and

i) The LGUs shall report details of their granular lockdown to the Department of the Interior and Local Government following a prescribed format which shall thereafter be submitted to their respective NTF Regional Task Force, who in turn shall monitor all areas under granular lockdowns in the region, and provide monitoring reports to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

Section 6. Penalty Clause. Any violation of the foregoing provisions shall constitute non-cooperation of the person or entities and is punishable under our existing laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. Executive Order No. 39, series of 2021, which placed the entire Province of Davao del Norte under Alert Level 3 in the Alert Level System for COVID-19 response, is hereby repealed accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect on 15 November 2021 and shall remain in full force until 30 November 2021 unless earlier revoked or amended accordingly.

ISSUED this 14th day of November 2021, in Tagum City, Davao del Norte Province, Philippines.

 

EDWIN I. JUBAHIB
Governor