Alert Level 1 Guidelines in Baguio City Released

The City Government of Baguio, through the Public Information Office, has released guidelines that will be implemented in the city while it is under Alert Level 1 from March 1-15, 2022.

Alert Level 1 Guidelines in Baguio City

As per Executive Order No. 27 series of 2022, the following guidelines will be followed effective Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Minimum Public Health Standards

1. All persons within the City of Baguio must wear face masks, and shall strictly observe social/physical distancing, whenever outside of their residences.
2. The use of surgical or medical-grade face masks are strongly encouraged, or these may be worn under cloth masks.
3. Partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated individuals are encouraged to always bring their vaccination documents when leaving the home for purposes of verification prior to entering enclosed establishments.
4. Health workers, persons aged 60 and above, and immunocompromised individuals are strongly encouraged to avail of additional or booster doses to reinforce vaccine effectiveness;
5. The general curfew, and temporary ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, implemented during higher alert levels are hereby lifted, but may be re-imposed according to the COVID-19 situation in the city.
6. Indoor establishments are urged to maintain adequate air exchange and ventilation by utilizing windows, unobstructed air passageways, exhaust fans and other mechanical ventilation systems.

Permitted Industries and Activities

1. Offices and establishments in the private sector may operate at 100% full capacity, however, alternative or work-from-home arrangements may still be utilized for immunocompromised or most-at-risk personnel;
2. Agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall adhere to 100% on-site workforce. However, off-site work may be availed of by employees who are immunocompromised, subject to rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission or the Office of the President;

C. The following establishments may operate at 100% full capacity, but must require proof of full or partial vaccination from all persons aged 18 and above, to wit:

1. 1. All indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, cafes, eateries, canteens, resto-bars, and the like;
   2. Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports;
   3. Venues for contact sports where such games shall be held, upon approval of the City Sports Office and City Health Services Office;
   4. Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE).
   5. 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;
   6. Indoor visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers, exhibits, galleries and the like;
   
   
   
   
   7. Indoor gaming and recreation venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues;
   8. Cinemas and movie houses;
   9. 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;
   10. Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in concert halls and theaters;
   11. Indoor Funfairs/peryas and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides;
   12. 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;
   13. Indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments; and
   14. Venues for election-related events.

4. Venues referred to in Paragraph C of this Order that have not yet secured a Safety Seal Certificate must undergo inspection from the City Health Services Office and seek approval to hold events from the Office of the City Mayor prior to the intended event or activity;
5. Bars and other establishments where the primary business is the sale and service of liquor products may operate at a maximum of 70% capacity only, inclusive of indoor and outdoor areas of the establishment;
6. For paragraph C and E of this section, persons may also present either of the following in the absence of proof of full or partial vaccination, to wit:
   1. Medical Certificate issued by the City Health Services Office stating that the person is not medically eligible for vaccination; OR
   2. Negative results of Antigen or RT-PCR test taken within the last fourteen (14) days.
7. Individuals ages 17 and below shall not be required to present proof of full or partial vaccination when entering indoor establishments.
8. All public and private construction projects shall be allowed, but with strict compliance to the construction safety guidelines issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways for the implementation of infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. Contact sports in indoor or enclosed venues may be permitted, upon the approval of the City Sports Office and the City Health Services Office. In such case, a Safety Seal Certificate is a requirement for the venue or establishment.
10. All offices, work places, stores, shops, establishments, including those within malls and shopping centers, shall exercise utmost hygiene and sanitation, continuous disinfection of high traffic and high touch contact areas, and shall formulate a contingency plan which shall include coordination with the local government and health care provider networks, management of staff and visitors with COVID-19 symptoms, processes for establishment of lockdown and disinfection, and alternative processes in case of escalation of Alert Level status.
11. Failure or refusal to comply with prescribed standards in the immediate preceding paragraphs may be a ground for closure, or revocation of business permits, and the imposition of fines, where applicable.

Face-to-face or in-person classes

• Face-to-face or in person classes may be conducted in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) provided there is strict compliance with minimum public health standards, consultation with the Local Government Unit, and adherence to guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education. Extracurricular activities may be conducted, subject to the approval of the Commission on Higher Education and the Local Government Unit.
• For K-12 Basic Education, the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan of the Department of Education shall be adopted, and applied in consultation with the Local Government Unit. Extracurricular activities may be conducted, subject to the approval of the Department of Education and the Local Government Unit.
• Technical vocational education and training (TVET) shall be allowed, subject to pertinent issuances of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and strict observance of minimum public health standards. Extracurricular activities may be conducted, subject to the approval of TESDA and the Local Government Unit.
• Review centers, training centers and other similar institutions not otherwise governed by TESDA, may operate at 100% of the venue capacity, provided, all on-site personnel and all face to face attendees must be fully vaccinated, and the establishment or institution must have acquired a Safety Seal Certificate.
• Health and safety protocols for licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations shall be supplied by the appropriate government agency administering said examinations, in consultation with the Local Government Unit.

General Guidelines for the Transport Sector

The following general guidelines shall be applied in the operation of the transport sector during the period of Alert Level 1, to wit:

1. Carriage and passenger arrangements of public utility vehicles (PUVs) shall comply with strict health standards according to issuances of the Department of Transportation (DOTR), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Local Government Unit. In addition, the following shall be strictly implemented:
   1. All PUV drivers shall be fully vaccinated. Drivers who are unvaccinated shall be required to undergo RT-PCR or Antigen testing at least once every two weeks, at their expense. Those who are medically ineligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines must present a Medical Certificate issued by the City Health Services Office as proof of ineligibility, and shall undergo RT-PCR or Antigen testing at a quarterly interval, with the assistance of the City Health Services Office.
   2. PUVs operating intra-zonal routes (within Baguio City) are allowed to accommodate 100% carriage capacity. However, PUVs operating inter-zonal routes to and from areas in Alert Level 2 or higher shall accommodate passengers according to the carriage capacity of the area with higher Alert Level, as the case may be.
   3. Operators must adopt a “No Mask, No Ride” policy for all passengers, and shall institute measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 such as the provision of hand sanitizers and similar disinfectants that are made readily available inside the vehicle, and utilization of a non-contact fare payment system; and
   4. Operators of public utility vehicles must ensure that passengers are wearing face masks at all times. Passengers who fail or refuse to abide by these health protocols should be instructed to alight from the vehicle.
   5. Travel routes and coding schemes for PUJs, Taxi Units, and private vehicles shall be according to official Advisories to be released in suppletory effect hereto.

Requirements to Enter Baguio City (UPDATED 2022)

SOURCE: Executive Order No. 27, 2022 (via PIO-BAGUIO)