BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Evelio Leonardia has lauded the cooperation of residents here as the city shifts to Alert Level 1 effective Tuesday.
“We wish to credit our people for their support and cooperation in observing health protocols. We are proving to all that when we all unite for a common purpose, we can achieve much more,” Leonardia said in a statement on Monday.
He pointed out that being placed in the lowest alert category indicates that the city government’s policies and practices were hitting the targets.
“It is a validation that (we are) on the right track in managing the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic,” the mayor said.
On Sunday, acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that Bacolod is among the local government units de-escalated from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15.
Before February 16, Bacolod was still at Alert Level 3, but its category was lowered to Alert Level 2 from February 16 to 28 after the city recorded a high vaccination rate and a significant drop in infections in the first two weeks of the month.
As of Sunday, Bacolod has only 238 active COVID-19 cases, data from the Department of Health-Western Visayas showed.
Em Legaspi-Ang, executive director of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force, said residents will now have the opportunity to see how well the city will manage the situation by relying on business establishments’ strict implementation of the minimum health protocols and the collective effort in maintaining safety protocols.
Based on the amended guidelines on the nationwide implementation of the alert level system issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Sunday, areas under Alert Level 1 will have no restrictions in terms of indoor and outdoor capacities, and everyone can undertake intrazonal and interzonal travel without regard to age and even comorbidities.
All establishments, persons, or activities are likewise allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at total on-site or venue seating capacity, provided these are consistent with minimum public health standards.
Public transportation in areas under Alert Level 1 shall be at full seating capacity.
Face-to-face classes for primary education shall be subject to prior approval of the Office of the President.
Under Alert Level 1, well-fitted face masks shall still be worn properly at all times. (PNA)
