ILOILO CITY – As local cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have surged after the Holy Week, social gatherings have been banned anew both in the province and city of Iloilo.

This is after Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province and Mayor Jerry Treñas issued new orders Tuesday.
As of April 6, the Western Visayas regional office of the Department of Health (DOH-6) has recorded 413 active cases of COVID-19 in Iloilo province and another 348 cases in Iloilo City.
Defensor has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the 42 towns and component city and local government officials including barangay (village) officials to strictly implement the ban on social gatherings. The ban includes birthdays, fiestas, wedding receptions, baptismal banquests, anniversary celebration, and other similar gatherings.
In Executive Order No. 2021-033, Treñas has outlined the protocols for a period of a week. This includes 30-percent workforce capacity for both private establishments and government offices in Iloilo City, which is the regional capital of Western Visayas.
Treñas’ order also includes provisions for particular activities . For weddings or baptisms, only 15 people are allowed. For funeral and wakes, only immediate family are allowed or not more than 10 persons at a time.
Meanwhile, the annual Iloilo Bike Festival slated for April 9-11 has been postponed to an unspecified date.