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Bacolod under GCQ with heightened restrictions – Roque; Mayor issues EO setting prohibitions

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President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Bacolod City under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions (GCQ-HR) starting Friday, July 16 until July 22, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced Thursday, July 15.

The National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) initially recommended that Bacolod City be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). However, Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked that Bacolod be allowed to remain under GCQ but it got a slightly higher quarantine status.

The president retained the GCQ status of Negros Occidental until July 31.

Leonardia Thursday night issued Executive Order No 39, Series of 2021 placing Bacolod City under GCQ-HR until July 22.

The ordinance states that Church and religious gatherings will now be at a maximum of 10 percent of venue capacity.

Food take-out and delivery services will be allowed at 100 percent, dine-in services – 20 percent of venue capacity, al fresco/outdoor dine-in services – 30 percent of venue capacity and outdoor tourist attractions – 30 percent of venue capacity.

Personal care services like barber shops, salons, and other personal care service establishments that do not require removal of face masks will be allowed to operate at 30 percent of venue capacity.

Indoor tourist attractions and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) will not be allowed.

Businesses also not allowed to operate under GCQ-HR are entertainment venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas; recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues;

Amusement parks or theme parks, fairs/peryas, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides; casinos, horse racing, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments, except for those authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President for the purpose of raising revenue for the government;

Traditional cockfighting and operation of cockpits; and outdoor/indoor sports courts or venues for contact sports, scrimmages, games, or activities.

Gatherings outside of residences will 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.

Gathering at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household will likewise be prohibited.

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 capacity.

Visits to memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaria are allowed but now reduced to not more than 10 persons per group and not exceeding 10 percent of the venue capacity.

The ordinance also states that persons below 18 years old, over 65 years old, with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women will be required to remain in their residences at all times, except for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in industries and offices or such other activities permitted by the national and local governments.

Daily curfew hours will continue to be observed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., and the sale of liquor will be allowed only from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., the ordinance said.

The sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks in authorized public places will continue to be totally banned and prohibited.

“We are glad that the National IATF listened to our plea to avoid the imposition of MECQ which we feel is too restrictive and a disturbance to the economy,” Leonardia said.

Also placed under GCQ-HR are Negros Oriental until July 31, and Aklan, Antique, and Capiz until July 22.

Guimaras was placed under GCQ until July 31, and Iloilo City and Iloilo province under MECQ until July 22.*

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