Cotabato City (May 19,2020)—Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) released new guidelines on the management of the said virus in the region on Tuesday, May 19.
Included in the updated guidelines is the permission of conducting small gatherings of up to 10 maximum persons.
The guideline states, “small gatherings are now allowed provided that it shall not exceed 10 participants and minimum public health standard is observed, such as mandatory wearing of face masks, observance of proper cough etiquette, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing, among other.”
“Hindi po ibig sabihin na puwede tayong maging kamapante. Mainam na sundin ang mga patnubayan tulad ng physical distancing upang maiwasan ang sinasabing second wave,” said Mohd Asnin Pendatun, BARMM’s Cabinet Secretary and IATF Spokesperson.
[This does not mean complacency. We should strictly follow the guidelines to avoid the so-called ‘second wave’.]“Our fight againts Covid-19 is still not over. In fact, we still have a long way to go. We still need to further strengthen our cooperation,” Pendatun said Tuesday.
He said the new guidelines is in line with Proclamation Nos. 922 and 929 of President Rodrigo Duterte, Republic Act No. 11649, the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines (IATF Resolution No. 30 and 30-A), and the IATF Resolution No 35-A and 36.
“Tayo po ay nasa crisis pa rin. Mayroong pandemic at ang common enemy ay nandiyan pa rin. Kahit may mga pagbabago sa community quarantine at mga patnubay, mainam na sundin ang Public Health Emergency protocol,” Pendatun explained.
[We are still under crisis. There’s still a pandemic and a common enemy. Even though there are changes in the community quarantine guidelines, we still need to follow Public Health Emergency protocol.]“Mahirap kung tayo po ay magkaroon ng second or third wave dahil exhausted na rin po ang ating mga front liners. Malaki na po ang kanilang sakripisyo, at para matulungan natin sila, kailangang sundin ang mga patnubay,” he stressed.
[We can’t handle a second or third wave because our front liners are already exhausted. They have already sacrificed too much. And in order to help them, we need to follow these guidelines.]Limited outdoor exercises, such as walking, jogging and cycling, are also now allowed under the updated guidelines. Limited contact sports (e.g. golf, tennis, etc) are allowed, provided safety protocols such as wearing of masks and maintaining 2 meters distance are properly observed.
Pendatun also said religious gathering in the region are still suspended until further notice.
The guideline states, “people are encouraged to pray at home. The Bangsamoro Mufti, thru the Regional Darul Ifta, and other religious authorities shall, from time to time, issue guidelines on the conduct of religious practices and ceremonies, particularly those involving mass gatherings and close contacts.”
Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan said in a statement, May 19, that the public must offer their Eid’l Fitr prayers at home, instead of going to the mosques.
Eid’l Fitr is expected to fall on May 23 or 24, subject to sighting of the moon. (Bureau of Public Information)
