ILOILO – Social gatherings like fiestas, thanksgivings, birthday, baptismal and wedding receptions, among others, make it difficult for people to maintain physical distancing, an essential health safety protocol to avoid coronavirus transmission. These activities are thus being prohibited in this province and Iloilo City.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Mayor Jerry Treñas both agreed that large gatherings triggered the surge in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Iloilo. In separate directives, they banned them.
“Maayo anay kita sa aton mga kasimanwa…likawan anay ang mag-birthday party,” said Defensor. “Bisan pista, indi pwede. Mas maayo kon indi gid magpaskwa kag magginutok.”
The governor ordered the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and barangay councils to disband social gatherings should there be any in their areas of operation.
“Mas maayo pa gid ini para makakini kita, kay ti mahal man daan magpaskwa,” said Defensor.
The police and barangay officials should also make sure people wear facemasks and face shields in public, he added.
Defensor wanted this campaign enforced down to the barangay level.
“The PNP (Philippine National Police) has this Barangay COVID Defense kag may ara kita sang PNP Patrolya ng Bayan Enforcement team,” he said.
The governor, however, clarified that gatherings by immediate family members are allowed.
Immediate family refers to a person’s parents, spouse, children, and siblings.
Data from the Provincial Health Office showed March 2021 as by far the month with the most number of COVID-19 infections – 926 cases – since March 2020.
As of this writing, the province’s cumulative cases (since the pandemic started last year) hit 5,501. But with 4,833 cases having recovered and 146 deaths, the current active cases stand at 522.
Five areas with the most number of cases are Passi City (683), Oton (446), Pavia (388), Miag-ao (225), and Santa Barbara (218).
IN THE CITY, TOO
Effective today, all non-essential gatherings in Iloilo City are strictly prohibited, unless lifted or modified, said Treñas.
The mayor said this is in preparation for the lifting of the moratorium on flights, and to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The non-essential gatherings include, but not limited to, parties, celebrations or other social events.
Weddings and baptisms are allowed but these should be limited to only 15 attendees or only immediate family members.
For wakes and funeral services, attendees must only be the deceased person’s immediate family up to third degree of consanguinity or not more than 10 persons at a time.
“Essential gatherings shall only be limited to gatherings that are for the provision of critical government services and authorized humanitarian activities while adhering strictly to the prescribed minimum health standards shall be allowed,” part of Treñas’ executive order read.
Religious gatherings are permissible subject to 30 percent capacity limitation and no activities shall be allowed outside the church or venue.
Meanwhile, all private establishments and government offices are directed to adopt work arrangements that entail no more than 30 percent of employees working on-site or a 30 percent workforce capacity.
On the other hand, effective April 11, all travelers bound for Iloilo City must utilize the S-Pass System prior to travel as a pre-departure requirement.
For those city residents and/or those staying with Iloilo City residents, they must obtain a travel coordination permit through S-Pass Travel Management System by submitting a Certificate of Residency from respective barangays here.
Non-city residents, on the other hand, have to submit a copy of a hotel or accommodation establishment booking.
Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) staying in the city for not more than 24 hours must also secure the pre-departure requirements, such as negative swab test result, among others.
Moreover, all other individuals arriving here such as locally stranded individuals (LSIs), returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), APOR staying in Iloilo City for more than 24 hours, and persons on non-essential travel/tourists traveling here must secure pre-departure requirements and submit them using the S-Pass system and secure a copy of travel coordination permit.
Upon arrival, those traveling by air shall be subject to nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NPS/OPS) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan while those traveling by sea must proceed to Jubilee Hall on Mabini Street, Iloilo City for swabbing.
After the RT-PCR testing, individuals must observe strict self-quarantine until negative RT-PCR test result is issued.
Individuals who will be tested positive for COVID-19 shall comply with the instructions of local health authorities./PN
