The daily curfew hours in Bacolod City will still be from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. even under the General Community Quarantine status, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said in Executive Order 35, series of 2021, that he issued yesterday.
Exempted from the curfew are workers on night shifts, media practitioners, and public emergencies like fire, ambulance services, or occasions caused by disaster/calamity, and those requiring medical assistance on board PUVs or private vehicles.
For the period of the GCQ, or until July 31, the selling of liquor, wine, beer, or any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage in public places shall continue to be allowed only from 12 noon to 6 p.m., while consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places is “totally banned and prohibited,” the EO added.
Any person below 18 years old, those who are over 65, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain in their residences at all times, except for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in industries and offices or such other activities permitted by the national and local governments, Leonardia said.
The EO also listed the businesses not allowed to operate under the GCQ restriction.
These include entertainment venues with live performers, such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas, recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues;
Amusement parks or theme parks, fairs/peryas, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides; casinos, horse racing, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments, except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President for raising revenue for the government;
Traditional cockfighting and operation of cockpits, and outdoor/indoor sports courts or venues for contact sports, scrimmages, games, or activities.
Gatherings outside of residences shall be prohibited except for health or government services, or humanitarian activities, while gathering at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household is also prohibited.
Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covid-19 shall be allowed up to 30 percent of the venue capacity, while visits to memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaria shall be limited to not more than 10 persons per group, or not exceeding 30 percent of the venue capacity.
Church or religious gatherings for holy mass, prayers, worship services or similar activities shall be at a maximum of 30 percent of the venue capacity, the EO added.
Leonardia said the GCQ takes effect from midnight of June 30 until July 31, but it may be modified again, by the National Inter-Agency Task Force to either a more stringent category, or downgraded, or lifted as warranted by circumstances.
“This indispensable reversal from Modified GCQ to GCQ status is intended to slow down the rate of local transmissions and to serve as fundamental reminder to our citizens that both the national and city governments are always concerned about the health of the people,” he said.
He added that there is need for sincere public cooperation and clear community awareness and understanding so that the gains brought about by the previous health discipline and protocols shall not be wasted, and people and the local economy shall survive despite the Covid-19 health crisis.*
