By Donna Rempillo Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairperson and Administrator Wilma Eisma issued temporary passes and identification cards to enter and exit the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. She, however, stressed that movement are limited only to access essential goods and services for work in offices and industries permitted to operate under the general community quarantine (GCQ). SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma inspects compliance with social distancing protocols at business establishments as the Subic Bay Freeport shifted to GCQ (Photo from SBMA/MANILA BULLETIN) “We have relaxed border restrictions in Subic because of the urgent need to revive our economy, which was also affected by the pandemic. To heal as one, we need to restore economic health, (but with caution) since the COVID-19 threat remains,” Eisma said. SBMA designated four gates for use of authorized residents, freeport workers, employees and suppliers, and also government officials, frontline and essential workers. The four gates are Rizal gate, Kalaklan gate, and Morong gate (open for both pedestrian and vehicle), while Tipo gate was designated for the entry and exit of vehicles only. Meanwhile, the main gate will be used only by authorized persons travelling on foot, while the 14th Street Gate will be open to authorized pedestrians, including those on bicycles or motorcycles, only from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Mondays to Saturdays. On the other hand, the Kalayaan Gate will be for exclusive use of ambulances, fire trucks, and law enforcement vehicles responding to actual emergency, vehicles with emergency medical patient on board, and SBMA vehicles transporting employees to and from official duty. All those who will enter the freeport zone by foot are required to wear facemask, pass through disinfection booth and/or foot bath, pass the temperature scan, observe social distancing, and present the required identification or documents. Those travelling on vehicles are also required to subject themselves and their vehicles to inspection and comply with restrictions on the number of passengers. “There is yet no cure or vaccine, so we need to be more cautious, more safety-conscious than ever before. More people movement also means more chances for the virus to move and spread even faster, so we need to protect our businesses, our families, and ourselves,” Eisma added. Outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise, like walking, jogging, running, biking, and skateboarding in residential areas in the freeport will be allowed. Those involved must observe minimum public health standards. Curfew shall remain enforced throughout the entire Subic Bay Freeport from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., except at the Central Business District where business activities are allowed up to 9 p.m., and at SBMA port facilities where operations are permitted 24 hours a day.