Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 1) – Despite having more relaxed quarantine measures, the province of Bohol does not hide the fact from its people that they have to adapt with the new norm of living brought by the pandemic.
“What we are doing right now is we are getting all sectors of Bohol together, to consider the new normal and we are not sugarcoating anything. We are not telling them that we can go back to the old way of doing things,” Bohol Governor Arthur Yap told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word.
As part of the new normal, people in Bohol are expected to always have a hand sanitizer, wear face masks, and consider online payment. Meanwhile, establishments in the province like restaurants would have reduced number of seats and passengers in public transportations would be limited.
“All of these will be the new norm right now and that’s the reason why we feel confident. Because we are priming everybody that this is how we are going to do things,” said Yap.
Places under the general community quarantine (GCQ), which include Bohol, are those which have low to moderate number of COVID-19 cases.
Unlike in areas under enhanced community quarantine, several non-essential businesses will be allowed to reopen in GCQ areas.
Yap said that provincial government is trying to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) like salons, barbershops, small eateries, and other small retail stores to transition into the new normal.
“That means helping them maintain social distancing as for their workplaces or to accommodate their patrons or their clients. What will it mean to serve their clients in this new norm? What will be the protocol? How are they going to receive their needs? How can they customize their services for these new clients?,” he said.
However, Yap said that helping MSMEs to transit into the new norm will take time and money.
“All of these are going to take time and funds and money right now,” he said.
“That’s the reason why we’ve been asking for support also from Land Bank, DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines), and other government financial institutions to, at least, support the governors and the mayors right now to be trained to re-adapt and to give the grants that are going to be needed by these MSMEs to transition into the new regime, the new economic regime,” he added.
READ: Gov’t finalizes rules for areas under enhanced, general community quarantine
