Various beach and mountain resorts in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental were closed during the San Juan celebration on June 24 to adhere to the executive orders of Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office inspected all beach resorts in barangays Punta Taytay and Pahanocoy, and noted the full cooperation of resort owners.
Mountain resorts, bars, restaurants, and coffee shops in barangays Alangilan and Granada were also closed on the Feast of San Juan Bautista to adhere to the appeal of Leonardia for everybody’s cooperation in order to contain the deadly virus.
City executive assistant for Disaster Operation, Joemarie Vargas, observed a hundred percent cooperation of resorts and there were no reports of guests, who attempted to enter these places.
The owners of these establishments earlier agreed to temporarily suspend operations, after Bacolod City officials and officers of the Emergency Operations Center held a consultation meeting with them on June 19 where efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Bacolod were discussed.
Even the traditional water-splashing, commonly observed at San Juan Street in Barangay 10, was absent, although the barangay celebrates its fiesta every June 24.
Administrative and criminal sanctions await violators of the EO issued by Leonardia, Vargas said. The EO bans any form of festivities, excursions, picnics, revelries, and other similar activities for the San Juan celebration.
This is to protect public health and safety by preventing the unwanted spread and indiscriminate contagion of COVID-19, the EO stated. — MML
