BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental remains under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an executive order yesterday extending the province’s quarantine regime until the end of the month.
Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, provincial administrator, said some parts of the province could already go back to the “new normal” situation.
“But it cannot be done yet all over the province especially that Bacolod City is still under the GCQ category,” said Diaz.
Meanwhile, contact tracers all over the province will now follow a uniform manual and that they are going to adopt guidelines on a software contact tracing.
Diaz said uniformed contact tracing is also based on the guidelines of the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease, which was imparted by Gen. Mel Feliciano in a recent meeting with Lacson and other local chief executives.
Diaz further said if a certain local government unit needs augmentation on contact tracing, the provincial government is ready to send the augmentation.
In Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 63, Series of 2020 yesterday placing Bacolod City under GCQ until Oct. 31.
In his latest directive, Leonardia suspended the use of home quarantine passes and posting of check-up points. Curfew hours, on the other hand, will remain from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Public transportation will be allowed on a limited capacity under the guidelines of the Department of Transportation, according to Leonardia.
Public transportation by air and sea will be subject to existing guidelines issued by the DOT, he said.
Sunday closure of the three major public markers of the city will continue for cleaning and sanitation in observance of health protocols and public safety, Leonardia added.
Mass gatherings are prohibited under the city’s GCQ.
Localized lockdowns will also be enforced in areas where residents test positive for COVID-19.
There will also be limited permission for the conduct of business and the exercise of profession, and movement of people in and out of the city unless for essential purposes.
The presence of uniformed personnel and force multipliers in strategic areas for safety and regulation will remain, while calculated measures will be imposed on citizens for public health safety and welfare like the mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing and frequent hand-washing./PN
