BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
There is no lockdown in Bacolod City.
The clarification was made by Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday amid unverified reports over social media that the city will be placed on lockdown during the holidays.
Familiaran, head of the local Inter-Agency Task Force, in a statement, said, what is true is that locally stranded individuals or those who will return to Bacolod from areas outside Region 6 will not be allowed to enter the city from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.
The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force has earlier approved the moratorium sought by the city government on the return of LSIs to give reprieve to health workers and allow for ample time to disinfect and prepare the isolation facilities.
Aside from Bacolod, other areas that were granted moratorium are Ilog, Bago, La Carlota, Sagay, Pontevedra, Himamaylan, Victorias, Calatrava, Cauayan, Hinobaan, La Castellana, Candoni, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Sipalay, and Murcia.
Familiaran appealed to those who spread the rumor about the lockdown in Bacolod to stop as this will give misinformation to the public.
“This is a serious matter and should not be made a joke since we are now facing a crisis and this could cause anxiety to the minimum wage earners and the businessmen,” he said.
“Before we believe in what are posted over social media, we need to validate its truthfulness before reposting or sharing it,” Famillaran also said.
NEW CURFEW
The new curfew hours in Bacolod City, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., already started yesterday.
In Executive Order No. 80, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the implementation of the new curfew hours is subject to practical circumstances, especially in the practice of the customs and traditions of the Christmas/Holiday seasons.
Leonardia said the city government recognizes that this season is looked upon by many Filipinos as a period for family bonding and social interaction. However, he stressed that any future application, implementation, or regulation of the curfew hours or non-social period will be subject to the issuance of a separate executive order.*
