The Sagay City government in Negros Occidental has temporarily banned the entry of tourists and visitors in one of its barangays for a religious event from April 30 to May 2.
Barangay Vito will celebrate the San Vicente Ferrer Festival on May 1 to 2, and it draws a huge number of attendees coming from the cities and municipalities in the province and the neighboring island of Bantayan, Mayor Alfredo Marañon III said in an executive order he issued on Monday, April 26.
In the EO, the mayor said that the reason for the temporary moratorium on the entry of visitors to Barangay Vito for three days is to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus.
“As a result of the more relaxed uniform travel protocols, there is an increase of COVID-19 active cases in Negros Occidental, and even in Sagay City,” he added.
The mayor also stressed in his EO that entry of visitors to visit relatives and friends in the village will be considered as non-essential travel and therefore, will not be allowed.
Entry to the barangay is only limited to essential travel, he said.
He also said that attendance of Church and religious-related activities will only be for residents of Barangay Vito, who should practice minimum health protocols.
The mayor added that 30 percent seating capacity in the venue should be observed during the religious activity.
Persons or establishments who do not comply with the executive order will face appropriate administrative and criminal sanctions under existing laws and regulations, the EO said.*