The Sipalay City government has eased its restrictions against COVID-19 as it opened its locality to tourists.
Mayor Maria Gina Lizares in Executive Order 2021-013 signed Thursday, May 13, extended the Modified General Community Quarantine in Sipalay City to May 31 with amended guidelines.
Under the new EO, which will take effect 12:01 a.m. Saturday, mass gatherings will be allowed up to 30 percent capacity of a venue, but establishments or venues will strictly comply with ventilation standards.
The daily curfew will start from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., while those who are exempted are persons in need of emergency services, personnel of cargo vehicles, and authorized persons outside their residence.
Under its amended travel guidelines, travel forms will no longer be required for outgoing residents, while travel outside the city will be limited to accessing essential goods and services.
Visiting relatives and friends within and outside the city will not be allowed, the order said, adding that non-resident private property owners wll be allowed entry but can stay in their properties for 24 hours only.
Border checkpoint personnel will strictly conduct symptoms screening of incoming individuals, and those who are manifesting flu-like symptoms and fever will be denied entry.
Local residents and foreign tourists from within the province and Bacolod City will be allowed entry for leisure travel in the city.
Guests above 65 years old will not be allowed for leisure travel to Sipalay.
Allowed tourist activities in the city include staycation, island hopping for checked-in tourists, diving, snorkeling, and other water sports, but sanitary guidelines will be implemented by the establishments.
Guests who are staying in private houses/properties with no license or accreditation will not be allowed entry, as the EO stressed that only establishments with Department of Tourism accreditation will be allowed to operate at 50 percent total guest capacity.
The EO also stressed that disinfection during Sundays will be observed.
Those who do not comply with the order will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, the EO said.*