Bacolod City - 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 General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions until July 22.

Under Executive Order Number 39 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia Thursday, gatherings at residences with any person outside of one's immediate household are also not allowed while 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.

The EO also allows visits to memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaria but now reduced to not more than 10 persons per group and not exceeding 10 percent of the venue capacity.

Leonardia ordered that the 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 and other public offices operating within the City may establish their own on-site work capacity as determined by their heads.

He said 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 a public health emergency.

But 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.

Face-to-face or in-person classes shall continue to be suspended while the education sector shall operate in accordance with the guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the mayor said.

TRAVEL

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 prior to and upon arrival in the City, except for those who are considered Authorized Persons Outside Residences.

Fully-vaccinated Bacolod residents, who can present their vaccination cards showing that the Bacolod EOC Vaccination Center has completely vaccinated them more than 14 days prior to their arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, are also exempted from presenting negative RTPCR tests results.

Other documents needed before entering Bacolod include an online baCTrac registration, valid identification cards, online health declaration, S-Pass, and travel coordination permit. Transportation from the airport to an unloading point in Bacolod shall be provided by the City.

CURFEW, LIQUOR BAN

Daily curfew hours shall continue to be observed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. except 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.

QUARANTINE, TRANSPORT

Any person below 18 years old, those who are over 65 years old, those with immunodeficiency, co-morbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain in their residences at all times.

The road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors of public transportation shall be allowed to operate at such capacity and protocols in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation while the use of active transportation, such as biking, is encouraged.

The movement of cargo/delivery vehicles, and those used by public utility companies shall be unhampered. Shuttle services of permitted establishments shall not be subject to an ID system but shall maintain compliance with minimum public health standards as long as they will be used to obtain essential goods and services, or for work in industries and offices, or such other activities permitted by the national and local governments.

OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS

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.

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.
(Adrian Nems III via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)