Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia recently issued an executive order discouraging physical contact greetings amid ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19.
“Handshaking, ‘pagmamano,’ hugging, kissing on the cheeks or ‘beso-beso,’ and other forms of greeting involving physical contact shall be strongly discouraged,” the order stated.
He noted, while it is a Filipino custom to greet with “beso-beso” or “pagmamano,” particularly with elders, “Every Bacolodnon should do [their] part in preventing the spread of the dreaded virus.”
According to the mayor, “The current situation calls for the employment of all means necessary to combat the spread of Covid-19.”
Meanwhile, the order noted, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922 on March 8, which declared a State of Public Health Emergency across the country; and, the following week, a state of general community quarantine was declared across Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ