- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Curfew hours in Bacolod City will be suspended on Dec. 24, 25, and 31, in consideration of the Christmas season that Filipinos look upon as a period for family bonding and social interaction.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in Executive Order No. 60 dated Dec. 15 and released this evening, said that from Dec. 16 to 23, and Dec. 26 to 30, curfew hours will be implemented from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., or shorter by one hour in the morning.
Section 4 of the EO stressed that “the observance/implementation of the curfew hours/non-social period shall be subject to practical circumstances, especially in consideration of customs and traditions particularly acknowledged under City Ordinance No. 937, dated August 25, 2020”, that grants emergency authority…and flexibility in the exercise of the emergency powers of the mayor.
The EO extended the Alert Level 2 classification of Bacolod until the end of this month, following the decision of the national Inter-Agency Task Force to place the entire Philippines under AL2.
Leonardia added that “for the period of the Level 2 Alert System, the rules and regulations in the selling of liquor, wine, beer or any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage in public places, and the selling and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in authorized public places shall be allowed only from 12 noon to 10 p.m.”
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments shall not be allowed to operate, or be undertaken in Bacolod City, except as may be authorized by the IATF, or the Office of the President, the EO added.
Presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said in a briefing that the IATF decided to allow the operation of cockpits and traditional cockfighting in areas under Alert Level 2, provided that there are no objections from local government units where the activity may take place.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said a maximum of 50 percent indoor and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, may be undertaken by establishments allowed to operate under AL2, provided that all their workers/employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and minimum public health standards are strictly maintained.
Intrazonal and interzonal travel into and out of Bacolod are allowed subject to the presentation of the vaccination card of the traveler, duly issued by the Local Government Unit of origin, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, or any government agency, national or international, duly authorized to issue such vaccination credentials.
Travelers who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to present a negative RT-PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival in Bacolod City, the EO added. | CGC
