BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
“We will still be under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions until July 31,” Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who issued Executive Order 41 series of 2021 yesterday, said.
Leonardia said all provisions of EO 39 placing Bacolod under GCQ with heightened restrictions and providing minimum health protocols and other regulations, that he issued last week, will remain in full force and in effect.
GATHERINGS
He said earlier that gatherings outside of residences shall be prohibited except for those essential for the provision of health services, government services, or humanitarian activities authorized by the appropriate government agency or instrumentality, while Bacolod City is under GCQ with HR.
Gatherings at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household are still not allowed as well, Leonardia said, adding that necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covid-19 are allowed but now reduced to 10 percent of the venue’s capacity.
Visits to memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaria are allowed but not more than 10 persons per group and not exceeding 10 percent of the venue capacity. Offices at the Bacolod City Government shall operate at a minimum of 50 to 100 percent of its on-site capacity, in accordance with relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission. Other public offices operating within the City may establish their own on-site work capacity as determined by their heads, Leonardia said.
HOTELS AND TRAVELS
Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid Department of Tourism accreditation shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients for legitimate purposes under a state of public health emergency.
Leonardia reminded that the operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments, as well as ancillary establishments within their premises, such as restaurants, cafés, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like, shall be subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the Inter-Agency Task Force.
He reiterated that upon arrival in Bacolod, all passengers must present a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction test result that must have been obtained within 72 hours before and upon arrival in the City, except for those who are considered Authorized Persons Outside Residences.
Leisure travel from Panay Island to Bacolod is still not allowed.
Movements of all types of goods and cargoes with a maximum of five persons and delivery vehicles will be unhampered.
CURFEW, LIQUOR BAN
Daily curfew hours shall continue to be observed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. except for those working on night shifts, media practitioners, public emergencies like fire, ambulance services, and other occasions caused by disaster or calamity, and those requiring medical assistance on board PUVs or private vehicles.
Indoor tourist attractions and entertainment venues, with live performers, such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, cinemas, internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, amusement parks, or theme parks, fairs, outdoor/indoor sports courts, or venues for contact sports are temporarily not allowed to operate in Bacolod.
AGE LIMITS
Leonardia stressed that those 18 years old, those who are over 65, those with immunodeficiency, co-morbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain in their residences at all times.
Food preparation establishments, such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, fast food and retail food establishments/eateries, including those in supermarkets and grocery stores, are allowed to have dine-in services utilizing 20 percent capacity of the venue and 30 percent venue capacity for outdoor dine-in services.
The mayor also said that personal care services, like barber shops, salons, and other personal care service establishments that do not require removal of face masks are allowed to accept clients occupying 30 percent of venue capacity.*
