Leonardia lifts liquor ban, shortens curfew hours

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The liquor ban was lifted, but curfew in Bacolod City will remain even after it was deescalated to Alert Level 1 until March 15, although it was shortened by one hour, or from 12 midnight to 4 a.m.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in Executive Order No. 9 dated Feb. 28 and released March 1 by the Public Information Office, said that until further advice, the liquor ban is lifted while the City stays under Alert Level 1.

Curfew exemptions, meanwhile, shall be made for workers on night shifts, media practitioners, public emergencies like fire/ambulance services/other occasions caused by disaster/calamity, and those requiring medical assistance on board PUVs or private vehicles, he added.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia

Intrazonal and interzonal movement shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities, provided that the City Government shall continue to strictly impose, for purposes of health and safety protocols, the travel guidelines covering all inbound travelers, regardless of alert level or vaccination status, the EO said.

Travelers shall be required to present a BaCTrac ID and vaccination card for those who had been fully vaccinated or have received a booster dose.

For those who remain unvaccinated or have received only the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine series, they shall present a negative or nonreactive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result certified by the DOH-accredited laboratory that administered the test within 48 hours before travel, Leonardia said.

Face-to-face classes for basic education shall be subject to prior approval of the Office of the President, but college and graduate schools may opt for in-person learning.

The offices of the Bacolod City Government shall revert to full or 100 percent onsite capacity, and the work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements for the Bacolod LGU are deemed suspended until further advice, the mayor said.

The IATF Resolution No. 148-B, dated Nov. 11, 2021, requiring unvaccinated government employees to present negative RT-PCR or RAT test results, at the personal expense of the employee, for on-site reporting shall be observed.

The RT-PCR or RAT testing, certified by a laboratory duly-accredited by the DOH, shall be done every two weeks, the EO said.

Failure to present the required negative test result shall count as absence from work, chargeable to sick and vacation leave credits, or as leave without pay once sick/vacation leave credits are used up.

Offices of national agencies, the judiciary, and other independent constitutional commissions may set their own on-site work capacities and rules in complying with IATF Resolution No. 148-B, the EO said.

All establishments, persons, or activities, except those on a limited venue capacity, may be allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity, provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards of social distancing, proper wearing of face masks, body temperature check, and the use of the Bactrac ID system at establishments patronized by the general public, and other similar safety protocols in the management and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said there is no need for an S-PaSS for travel to Iloilo City from any place for those fully vaccinated. “For the unvaccinated, a negative RT-PCR test is necessary 72 hours before travel,” he added. | CGC