ILOILO City – From March 16 to 31 there will be no classes in all levels in both public and private schools here. It is a measure to avert the local transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), said Mayor Jerry Treñas who ordered the class suspension yesterday.
Within this two-week period, schools will be disinfected.
Treñas said students, teachers, school administrators, and staff must be protected against the novel coronavirus causing a pneumonia-like illness.
His suspension order, he added, was in line with the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Disease’s Resolution No. 11-2020 advising local government units outside the National Capital Region to exercise sound discretion in suspending classes in their respective areas.
“During this period, students are also prohibited from entering or patronizing malls, bars, coffee shops, and other similar establishments where social distancing cannot be observed,” read part of Treñas’ executive order (EO) suspended classes.
The mayor “strongly advised” students and school personnel to instead quarantine themselves at home.
All school activities during the 14-day period are also prohibited, stressed Treñas, such as – but not limited to – JS Proms graduation, moving up, recognition and events where social distancing could not be observed.
Regarding post-graduate programs of schools, the mayor left the decision to continue or suspend them to school administrators.
To ensure that students won’t use the two-week class suspension as an opportunity to wander and increase their risk of getting the virus, Treñas said the city government would be inspecting malls, bars, coffee shops, computer shops, and similar establishments.
These establishments must turn students away or face penalties not limited to fines alone. Treñas said erring establishments may lose their business permits pursuant to the Local Revenue Code of Iloilo City.
The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) and Philippine National Police have been tasked to enforce the EO.
“This is not a lockdown on Iloilo. We are just calling off classes. We are requesting malls, too, to reduce their activities,” Treñas said.
He added that the city government is only asking for two weeks of class suspension because that is the incubation period of the COVID-19.
With the initiative, he said, the chances of spreading the infection will be reduced.
Also yesterday, Treñas announced that the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs would be suspending the processing of identification cards at city hall beginning March 16 to discourage the elderly from traveling to the city hall and expose themselves to possible virus contamination.
According to the World Health Organization, the elderly appear to be the most vulnerable to COVID-19 due to weakened immune system and underlying medical conditions.
Treñas, too, advised religious sects, congregations and denominations in his EO to review the conduct of their religious services and gatherings. He stressed the importance of social distancing and suggested foregoing religious activities where such could not be observed.
The city’s chief executive also said city hall employees may be allowed to have a four-day work week provided that the 40 working hours required for government workers will be met./PN
