ILOILO – Not only village chiefs but also local chief executives and the public have a vital role in the strict enforcement of health protocols, particularly the ban on mass gatherings, down to the barangay level, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Amid the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, Defensor noted that mayors have so far been compliant with his directives.
However, Defensor said, he still received reports about tourism establishments catering to tourists and other non-essential individuals – with local officials clueless of their operations.
“Our mayors are enforcing that (ban on mass gatherings). They are even inspecting except nga may ara nga indi mo man gid dayun ma-ubos tanan kay naga-operate sila (some resorts),” Defensor told Panay News.
“Sin-o man ‘na nga officials naton…may obligasyon gid kag may responsibilidad,” he pointed out.
And it does not depend on the rule implementers only, according to Defensor, “the public has a responsibility, too.”
The governor said people must cooperate by adhering to community quarantine protocols, especially the ban on gatherings.
Defensor reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning of sanctioning barangay captains who cannot stop “super spreaders” in their jurisdictions.
Large gatherings that include fiestas, birthday parties, weddings and the like are possible triggers of local COVID-19 transmission, according to Defensor.
Thursday last week, Western Visayas recorded its highest number of daily infections to date – 628. Of these new cases, Iloilo province had 114, data from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 showed.
Defensor said he was involving the barangay captains “100 percent kay sila ‘na nakahibalo sang activities sang pumoluyo.”
“For failure to perform your obligations, may sanction man ang aton laye that’s why amo ‘na ang pronouncement sang aton Presidente,” Defensor said.
President Duterte said failure to enforce the law, particularly community quarantine restrictions, is considered a neglect of duty and punishable under the Revised Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Defensor is reminding all owners and operators of resorts and other tourism establishments here that their closure would last until today, May 31.
On May 20, Defensor issued Executive Order No. 163, Series of 2021 implementing adjusted community quarantine measures and health protocols in the food service industry and suspension of operation of facilities in tourism, recreation and accommodation establishments to arrest the surge of COVID-19 cases.
“Ipaumod ta ‘ni anay kay ginabutang ninyo sa risgu ang mga pumoluyo. Daku na nga bagay nga ipaumod ta anay kay delikado ‘na sila. Bisan nagapa-picture ka lang dira indi mo ‘na mabatyagan sa sina nga adlaw pero what if you contract the disease,” said Defensor.
Here are the adjusted protocols based on the EO:
* The operation/use of facilities/venues/ areas for recreation and leisure (such as, swimming pools, cottages, beaches, playgrounds, game rooms, function rooms, dining halls, food stations, bars and dance halls) of tourism, recreation and accommodation establishments (such as, beach resorts, inland resorts, water parks, amusement parks, ecological parks, hotels, tourist inns, motels, pension houses, apartment hotels, private homes used for homestay, ecolodges, serviced apartments, condotels, and bed and breakfast establishments) shall be suspended, provided that such tourism, recreation and accommodation establishments may continue to provide basic board and lodging services (room and meals) to:
a. Authorized Persons Outside of their Residences (APORs)
b. returning or repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other overseas Filipinos (OFs) returning to their places of residence; and
c. other returning residents
* Swimming and other recreation activities in public beaches, inland, watersand, and other tourist spots shall be prohibited.
* For restaurants, fast food chains and food stalls, dine-in service shall be allowed to open at 50 percent of seating capacity, provided that:
a. diners shall not be seated directly face-to-face (or not directly in front of each other), and that there shall a barrier made of impermeable and transparent material between opposite sides of the tables;
b. tables and chairs shall be at least one-meter apart;
c. alcoholic drinks/beverages, such as, but not limited to whisky, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer and such other intoxicating drinks shall not be sold and/or served; and
c. sing-along, karaoke and/or videoke shall likewise not be allowed.
Defensor said Philippine National Police personnel are monitoring on everyone’s compliance with the protocols./PN
