Malay, Aklan to be placed under community quarantine

The municipality of Malay, Aklan, including Boracay Island, will be placed under community quarantine as a preventive measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista signed a memorandum on Wednesday which states that there shall be a restriction as to the entry of persons in the municipality of Malay, either by land, sea or air, except for the Malaynons, persons involved in the delivery of goods and commodities, medical personnel working in the municipality, national government officials and employees, returning officials of barangay local government, and returning municipal officials of the local government.

Bautista said there would be no restriction on travel outside Malay, however, those who will leave will not be allowed to enter the municipality during the effectivity of the order.

All unnecessary mass gatherings are also prohibited, Bautista said.

Local government units, except those identified as frontline offices, shall observe a four-day work schedule while private firms are urged to have a flexible work arrangement.

Bautista further directed that all pharmacies in the municipality to dispense medicines up to the minimum number of units specified in the prescription.

The local government will also implement curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to avoid people from loitering around the streets.

The executive order will take effect at 10 p.m. of March 19.

At present, the entire Luzon is already under enhanced community quarantine due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

President Rodrigo Duterte also placed the whole country under state of calamity. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News