BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental is considering reduced curfew hours “as long as minimum health standards are maintained.”
Shorter curfew hours, according to Lacson, will help local businesses recover from the adverse impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
“Shortening curfew hours will allow businesses, especially those engaged in the food industry, to open for longer hours,” said Lacson.
He, however, clarified he would be leaving the decision to the mayors.
The governor’s statement came on the heels of the decision of Metro Manila mayors to impose shorter curfew hours from midnight to 4 a.m. as part of the government’s move to ease restrictions and restart the economy.
In response to Lacson’s statement, Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City said he is supportive of relaxing the curfew protocols as long as strict public health protocols are maintained.
In fact, Escalante is proposing to relax the curfew in his locality from the current 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. by next month.
Mayor Richard Jaojoco of Toboso, meanwhile, said he is also in favor of the proposal, although for now they will stick with their current 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew./PN
