Curfew hours in Bacolod City, set from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. until the end of the year, will be suspended on Dec. 24 and 31 in consideration of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“This is in observance of Filipino customs and traditions of celebrating Christmas and to welcome the New Year,” Mayor Evelio Leonardia said in Executive Order No. 82 issued on Sunday, Dec. 20.
Leonardia said that with the intention to provide Bacolodnons the chance to exercise time-honored customs and traditions during the Christmas season, he consulted the city officials and the members of the Emergency Operating Center to determine the feasibility, practicality and safety of such policies.
Data of the EOC showed that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Bacolod showed a significant drop and improvement in the past several weeks in terms of reported daily positive cases, recovery rates, hospital capacity utilization rate, and active cases.
“The data have convinced us that suspending the curfew hours on Dec. 24 and 31 is now an option we can afford to take,” Leonardia said.
Msgr. Felix Pasquin, parish priest of Our Lady of Candles Parish, welcomed the development as it will give ample time to the Catholic faithful to attend evening masses to welcome the celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ.
However, Pasquin reminded the public that while the curfew hours are suspended on those days, they should remember that public gatherings are still prohibited.
“If ever a small gathering will be held within the family, they should observe health protocols,” he added.
Starting Dec. 15, curfew hours in Bacolod have been modified – from the previous 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. – to accommodate those attending the nine-day dawn masses from Dec. 16 until on Dec. 24 as requested by Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod. – MML
