Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order limiting activities during Holy Week and suspending public celebrations on Easter Sunday, April 4, to stem the spread of COVID-19 infections.
Leonardia in Executive Order No. 16, Series of 2021, issued Wednesday ordered the closure on Easter Sunday of all resorts/leisure parks, recreation centers and parks in Bacolod.
Closure of such establishments will not be limited to those in barangays PuntaTaytay, Pahanocoy, Alangilan, and Granada, he said.
Leonardia also said that church gatherings for holy mass, worship, prayers and similar activities will be encouraged to only ten percent of venue seating capacity.
Church visitations (VisitaIglesia) on Holy Thursday, April 1, will be limited to the immediate members of the family to be regulated by the respective parishes on a 10 percent venue seating capacity at any given time of visit/s. Religious processions in public roads, streets, similar places are likewise strongly discouraged, Leonardia said.
Any form of festivity, excursion, picnic, revelry, and/or similar public gatherings in open places at public roads, streets, alleys, parks, squares, shorelines, beaches, and the like, are all suspended during any day during the Holy Week and particularly on April 3 and April 4, Leonardia also said.
The punong barangays and their respective enforcement officials/personnel are hereby directed to assist the city government in implementing the EO and to cooperate with the City Legal Enforcement Team and the Local Philippine National Police in enforcing the prohibitions contained in the EO for health and safety measures and protocols.
“Subject to the exercise of police power in times of a state of emergency, this Executive Order shall be strictly implemented by the lawful authorities and complied with by the constituents of Bacolod City/all persons concerned under pain of administrative and/or criminal sanctions under the applicable civil service laws, special laws, City Ordinance/s and/or the Revised Penal Code,” he added.*