By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the suspension of classes in all levels and in all public and private schools because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 20 series of 2020 on March 14,2020 after the Negros Occidental chapter of the Philippine Pediatric Society led by Dr. Annilyn Bergante appealed for emergency protection measures to reduce the risk of the fast contagion of COVID -19 among the students.
The EO takes effect immediately until further notice.
Leonardia said school officials and /or the school board of directors will decide on certain strategies for the continued education of their students during the period of suspension in accordance with the World Health and Department of Health advisories and after close consultation with and/ or the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.
The EO said that “there now arises a heightened threat to the health and well being of students from an increased number of PUMs (Person under Monitoring) which requires a more stringent form of social distancing through the temporary suspension of classes in all levels of public and private schools in the city.”
Earlier, Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 19 declaring persons from Metro Manila as PUMs and are instructed to undergo a self -imposed 14 day quarantine period.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson meanwhile, issued Executive Order no. 20-13 declaring that all people coming in the province from Manila Metro through land sea and air travel will be considered PUMs.
Both officials also ordered the suspension of graduation and moving up ceremonies in the schools.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon issued an advisory during the weekend suspending Sunday and daily masses starting March 14 until further notice.
