ILOILO City – Establishments prohibited from opening under the general community quarantine (GCQ) but nevertheless continue to do business face severe punishment.
Their permits would be revoked and even if the day would come that the Interagency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would allow them to operate, the city government won’t approve, warned Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The following are not allowed to open yet under the GCQ as stated in Treñas’ Executive Order (EO) No. 75:
* spas, massage centers, facial centers and the like
* gyms, fitness studios, and other sports facilities
* libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities
* travel agencies and tour operators
* resorts, parks, beaches and other leisure/tourism businesses
* amusement centers including movie houses, computer and online gaming shops, all-night clubs, pubs, massage parlors, casinos, cockpits, and the like
On May 16, this city transitioned from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to GCQ, easing restrictions in the operation of businesses, transportation and travel, among others, to rev up the local economy while at the same time curbing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Treñas has started deploying “compliance officers” across the metro to check who’s following and violating EO No. 75 placing the city under GCQ.
As stated in Section 11 of EO No. 75 : “The Business Permits and Licensing Office as well as other authorized officers of the Iloilo City Government shall take charge of inspecting and ensuring that establishments allowed to operate…strictly comply with health standards and safety measures.”
These are the safety measures:
* wearing of facemask
* observing physical distancing
* confinement at designated quarantine and isolation fatalities
* regulated travel of persons between ECQ (including modified ECQ) and GCQ areas
The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, on the other hand, had been asked to “take charge of the inspection of the operation of mass public transportation and the compliance of all other persons to the health standards.”
LODGE CAUGHT OPERATING
A lodging house in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo district was discovered to be operating in violation of Treñas’ EO.
The city government’s Task Force on Morals and Values Formation made the discovery on May 20, according to its chief, Nestor Canong.
“We received information about this lodge last week and did a stakeout on Wednesday night. May nakita kami nga taxi, walk-in and private car nga nagsulod kag wala nakagwa. Naaktohan gid naton,” said Canong.
Clients of the lodge were told to leave and the management was ordered to close shop.
No arrests, however, were made because, according to Canong, the city government was still carrying out an information dissemination campaign on Treñas’ EO.
The lodge’s management promised to comply with the EO, said Canong.
Under the EO, the following activities are also prohibited:
* entertainment-related mass gatherings including theaters, large concerts, festivals, conventions, and shows including those in pubs or bars, restaurants, coffee shops, cocktail lounges, and other similar establishments
* business-related mass gatherings like trade shows, conferences, workshops and rentals
* politically-related mass gatherings like election rallies, parades and speeches
* sports-related mass gatherings like trainings and tournaments
* gambling and betting activities
* activities of travel agencies or tour operators/PN
