BACOLOD City – Popular resorts in barangays Punta Taytay and Pahanocoy will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 4, due to the spike in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) cases in this city.
The temporary suspension of operation of tourism establishments was decided after an open forum of resort owners with Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
“This is not a lockdown. This is just a preventive measure,” said Leonardia.
“We don’t like to do this. As much as I like progress, we have to address COVID-19 first,” the mayor stressed.
The forum was attended by business owners based in Punta Taytay and Pahanocoy, barangay officials, city hall officials, members of the City Legal Office-Enforcement Team, and Bacolod City Police Office.
This Holy Week, Bacolod is observing stricter regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 upon the recommendation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Pahanocoy and Punta Taytay are among the areas in this city frequented by thousands of people during Holy Week, especially on Easter Sunday.
City Administrator Em Ang, executive director of the EOC-TF, cited figures showing that Bacolod recorded 188 active cases in the last 14 days only, with a 17-percent positivity rate from March 23 to 29.
Yesterday, the city logged 35 new COVID-19 cases.
Helena Flores Olave, representative of Solena’s Beach, and Lina Alcala Peña, owner of Alcala Beach, said they agreed to a one-day closure because health must be prioritized over money.
Punta Taytay village chief Leah Palma appealed to her constituents to strictly observe minimum health protocols while Pahanocoy village chief Yolanda Noble requested cooperation from the residents./PN
