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Bureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines
1 hr ·
PRESS RELEASE
27 May 2020

BI braces for ‘new normal’

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration (BI) offices are prepared to resume full operations as it was issued a set of guidelines and protocols that its employees and stakeholders are bound to follow and observe under a “new normal” environment after the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is lifted in Metro Manila and other areas of the country.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new protocols will be implemented at the BI main office and other immigration field, satellite and extension offices as soon as the government places Metro Manila under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

“We are adapting these new guidelines and protocols to ensure that our employees and persons who transact business in our offices are protected against the coronavirus,” Morente said.

However, he stressed that due to continuing risk posed by COVID-19, the bureau’s workers will continue to follow several work schemes and arrangements to achieve social distancing and congestion in their workplace.

“Depending on the requirements of their respective offices, our division and section chiefs have the option to implement flexible working arrangements for their staff which particularly suits them. The bottomline is that wearing of face masks, sanitation and social distancing measures are always observed,” said BI Deputy Commissioner and COVID-19 Task Force Head Aldwin Alegre.

Among these work schemes are staggered working hours, assignment of skeleton force, four-day workweek, and work-from-home arrangements for employees who are seniors or have underlying medical conditions.

Alegre also bared that wearing of face masks is a must for all persons entering the bureau and that the number of individuals allowed inside the premises will be limited to a certain number at a particular time to avoid overcrowding.

“These ‘new normal’ protocols will soon be posted in our bureau’s website for the information of the general public,” he added.

It will be recalled that the BI suspended operations in many of its offices two months ago after the government placed Metro Manila and Luzon under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

I would say I am a very cautious person generally and with my background especially so with a viral pandemic.

BUT sometimes risks have to be taken. Many liken the pandemic to a 'war' and it is in a sense - the enemy is trying to overcome human defences to gain a benefit.

Without any disrespect intended to the brave veterans on this Forum and without any personal military experience (but I have watched movies and read books!) the need to take risks in battle are well known - if the risk has a withdrawal strategy attached then it can be worth that risk.

So, with seemingly zero cases in Negros Oriental (IF the truth is being told) I feel the risk of abandoning quarantine is worth taking - to protect people's livelihoods and (sometimes related) their physical and mental health, plus government finances (I haven't mentioned alcohol as everyone else is doing fine on that topic! ).

BUT this needs to be secured with an immediate return to quarantine if cases start to arise (just a justifiable form of retreat). In the meantime the authorities can actually get a proper pass system set up so it can be introduced at once (no floundering for days or weeks) and where people know what they can and cannot do and receive the permission (physical pass) to do so - not a system where people are confused by so many changes and where some/many barangays have done nothing to get passes to residents. Why not have one type of pass only (the system based on Bacong to Basay and Sibulan to Canlaon seems the most sensible produced so far) and just change the conditions attached to that pass if necessary (without changing the physical document). Most people seem to use Facebook so current rules pertaining to that pass could be issued very quickly. They just need to avoid doing that on a daily or hourly basis! A few mild cases could involve conditions pertaining to a GCQ and those rules need to be changed only if an ECQ becomes necessary due to an increase in numbers and/or severity of cases.

I would strongly suggest continuing and enforcing social distancing and face masks but when eating in restaurants the masks can be removed by diners (NOT staff) as long as social distancing is maintained (the usual exemption for families living together could be retained).

The Province has not been seriously affected and the situation now appears to be even better than a few weeks ago - so IMO this is the time to take a risk.

The only thing that bother me is if they open up the borders without quarantining people entering (especially OFWs - some of whom will have come from hot-spots) - then all bets are off. And the quarantine needs to be more than self-quarantining as people cannot be trusted.

 

Now that my life is so pre-arranged.

 

I must confess that I become argumentative and just generally grouchy as a result of this quarantine and it shows in my posts and replies.... So I will refrain from any discussion on this $%#$% Covid #$#@@% until it is over and only pitch in when I can be of help .... Stay Safe all

 

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/new...YI1csWZdFXI4uglXTnNXMILzAHkTcrUkwqWfXi-a5yY3U

Reading the above article makes me so grateful that I live in the Philippines and not the UK. I read a lot of criticism on various forums about the way things are in this country and while I accept that things are far from perfect at times I find it hard to imagine such moronic and despicable acts as these taking place over here.

Back in the pre-enlightened days when I as involved in policing in Liverpool disgusting behavior such as this would have earned the offenders an unpleasant ride in a personnel carrier to the cells following advice and guidance en-route and a visit to the A&E Department for cosmetic repairs. Rant over!

 

In order to protect the patients, doctors and staff the guard at the gate will not let you in if you have a fever and unless your doctor by telephone says for you to come to Holy Child. Just calling Holy Child they will tell you there are no doctors available and all clinics are canceled.

Always keep the phone number of your doctor's secretary to use in times like these. It may be easier to contact your doctor if they are a department head in the hospital.

Symptoms appear from Covid-19 within 5 days of exposure and blue lips are a sign of advanced disease threatening life.

With this being met, the guard will take your temperature and ask questions to fill up a form.

Don't expect to load up the patient in your SUV and rush them to the hospital, they won't get in the gate because of protocol. Call the patients doctor and follow directions.

shaky

 

Since it's only 8:40 am (12/24) here in SoCal and most of you are probably sleeping since it's midnight there, let me be the first to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Years for 2020.

 

Jungle version.
Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Holiday!
Dr. Ski

 

But I can't go back, I know.
Just learned of Eddie Money's passing. Sad day.

I try to vary the type of images in my galleries, but the last couple of days have produced some outstanding crepuscular apparitions. Since I am limited to posting 10 photos, I am devoting this post to sunrise and sunset events from the Observatory.

 

First time at Latino, it opened already a while ago. Mostly Spanish and Italian food and also some Asian style, always sounds good. Located at the National south road in Dumaguete, just a door in the wall from outside, but when we went inside we were really positively surprised. Very nice ambience, decorative items everywhere, chinese style red balloon lamps makes it a cozy place to stay. The food was simply great, asawa had Spaghetti Carbonara with ribs and was very happy, couldn't finish the huge portion, take-out was no problem. My Thai chicken with peanuts and veggies was also great. Short waiting time for serving about 20 minutes, perfect. We got each a complimentary Sangria home made style, I do not drink that stuff normally, but this was nice because it was not too sweet. All that fresh cooked food ended with a very reasonable, not to say cheap bill. A really satisfying dining experience, unexpected. Had a talk with the owner, a nice guy from Barcelona in Spain, he is obviously running his spot with passion. Conclusion: After the Spanish colonized the Philippines for about 400 years, they are back; but for much better purposes :-)