By Dolly Yasa and Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Friday afternoon Executive Order No. 26 placing this city under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease or COVID -19.
Leonardia said the ECQ will start March 30 to April 14, 2020.
He also announced that the Department of Health Region-6 has confirmed three more positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally in the city to 4.
Leonardia said the ECQ “may be extended as warranted by circumstances.”
Leonardia’s order came a day after Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also issued Executive Order no. 20-2020 placing the entire province under ECQ.
In his executive order, Leonardia said that with the province of Negros Occidental under ECQ “we treat it as a precaution against the spread or local transmission of COVID-19 in the whole province, it now becomes imperative for the city of Bacolod to synchronize all its preventive measures against the dreaded viral disease for it to properly and effectively safeguard the health and welfare of its constituents.”
Leonardia said the ECQ will be strictly implemented by the police and the Army adding that “it will be martial law by necessity.”
“Palihog cooperate with this executive order,” he added.
BACK RIDER BAN
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Julian Entoma, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said Friday that the temporary ban on motorcycle back riders was held in abeyance pending guidelines from the Department of Transportation (DoTr).
Entoma said that they were told by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) to suspend the implementation of the prohibition while it is being reviewed.
Entoma also said that he was told by Governor Roel Degamo to consider its suspension in the meantime amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Entoma said that they will focus in the meantime on information dissemination to remind the public about its implementation soon.
“Wala munang huli sa ngayon, but we will keep on reminding the public na bawal ang angkas” he added.
But he said habal-habal drivers who use motorcycle as a source of livelihood in barrios were already prevented from ferrying more passengers as part of social distancing measures against COVID-19.
In case it will be implemented, only couples or any two members of a family can be allowed to ride the motorcycle, he said.
