JORDAN, Guimaras – Beginning yesterday, the “last trip” of motorboats plying the Iloilo City – Guimaras route (and vice versa) has been moved to 5 p.m. from the previous 3 p.m.
Acting Governor John Edward Gando ordered the easing of this travel restriction via Executive Order EO) No. 28 (titled “An executive order amending certain provisions of Executive Order No. 24, Series of 2021”).
EO No. 24 was issued by Gov. Samuel Gumarin on June 5 to arrest the upward trend of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the province. Section 2.1 mandated the closure of non-essential business establishments while sections 2.2. and 2.3 limited the operating hours of sea vessels and public utility vehicles.
However, according to Gando, during the COVID-19 Executive Committee (Execom) meeting on June 22, members noted that the data on COVID-19 cases “have been showing some good signs that the restrictions presently implemented have been effective in stemming the surge of cases in the province.”
While it was the consensus of the Execom members that Guimaras “must not put its guards down”, they agreed that certain provisions of EO No. 24 have to be modified, “albeit slightly”, to cushion the impact of these restrictions to people.
Gando ordered the following modifications in EO No. 24:
* sea vessels shall operate not earlier than 6 a.m. and not later than 5 p.m.
* all business establishments may be allowed to open, except those which, by the very nature of their business, engage in face-to-face, one-on-one and long exposure to their clients such as barbershops, salons, spas, fitness gyms and similar establishments
* public utility vehicles shall operate not earlier than 5 a.m. and not later than 5 p.m.
Gando stressed that other businesses that engage in leisure activities such as but not limited to recreation centers, videoke/karaoke bars, beerhouses, billiard centers, tourism destinations, and computer shops shall remain closed.
Dine-in services in food establishments are still suspended until further notice.
Guimaras, as of June 22, registered a total of 869 COVID-19 cases with 24 deaths.
Business establishments’ operations are “not earlier than 6 a.m. and not later than 1 p.m.
Pharmacies may open not earlier than 6 a.m. but not later than 3 p.m.
Exempted from the business hour limitations are hospitals and funeral parlors./PN
