BACOLOD CITY - The city government here has lifted the liquor ban and shortened the curfew hours following the city's de-escalation to Alert Level 1 on March 1 to 15.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an Executive Order (EO) on Feb. 28 stating that the liquor ban which was being implemented from 12 noon to 10 p.m. was lifted while the city is placed under Alert Level 1.
Leonardia also shortened the curfew hours from 12 midnight to 4 a.m., or with one hour difference from the earlier curfew hours of 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
He said offices of the Bacolod City Government shall revert to full or 100 percent on-site capacity and the work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements for the local government unit deemed suspended until further advice.
Unvaccinated government employees are required to present negative RT-PCR or RAT test results, at their personal expense, for on-site work.
Failure to present the required negative test result shall count as absence from work, chargeable to sick and vacation leave credits, or as leave without pay once sick/vacation leave credits are used up.
Under the said EO, establishments may be allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards (MPHS), while other activities shall be on a limited 80 percent outdoor seating/venue capacity and limited 60 percent indoor seating/venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years old, even if unvaccinated, under the City Government’s prerogative to exercise the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) and to avoid the abrupt shift to a completely relaxed health and safety protocols.
Leonardia also said that face-to-face classes for basic education shall be subject to prior approval of the Office of the President.
Intrazonal and interzonal movement shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities provided, however, the city government shall continue to strictly impose for purposes of health and safety protocols.
All inbound travelers to Bacolod City from all areas of the Philippines regardless of Alert Level or Status thereof shall be required to present BaCTrac ID, and Vaccination Card for those who had been fully vaccinated and/or have received a booster dose, before boarding for the last leg of their trip prior to arriving in any seaport/area of jurisdiction of Bacolod City or the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental, and upon arrival at these ports of entry.
For those who remain unvaccinated or have received only the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine series, they shall present a negative result under Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) certified by the DOH-accredited laboratory that administered the RAT within 48 hours before boarding at their port of departure immediately before arriving in any port of entry in Bacolod City.
The LGU may, however, randomly subject those travelers required to present the negative RAT result to another RAT upon their arrival in Bacolod port/s and/or airport (free-of-charge) to ensure the authenticity of the previously-undertaken RAT and for the purpose of assuring the safety of the general public.