By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday signed an executive order placing the entire province under an enhanced community quarantine in response to ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19. The order takes effect Monday, March 30, and runs until April 14.

Under the quarantine, only one member of each household will be provided a quarantine pass by their respective barangay, which will allow them to visit the supermarket.

“Curfew is [no longer] applicable since only one member is allowed to go out,” the governor explained. “Senior citizens, who are the most vulnerable [to] the virus, are strictly not allowed to go out.”

He insisted, “It will be normal.”

Supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks will remain open.

In addition, Lacson advised residents to shop “normally.”

“Buy normal consumption the way you do it on normal days,” he added.

Meanwhile, barangay officials will be responsible for handing out the quarantine passes throughout their respective jurisdictions, which the provincial official emphasized, should be free. Bearers of the pass are limited to purchasing food, medicine, and other necessities and, with public transportation suspended, must also be able to operate their own vehicle.

Additionally, those exempt from the enhanced community quarantine include medical and emergency personnel, police, soldiers, delivery personnel, utilities personnel, media, public officials, private company employees, the judiciary, and those working at the province’s agricultural mills and food industry.

Those exempt must also carry government-issued identification.

The enhanced community quarantine also includes a “No Sail” policy that prohibits the use of all private and pleasure crafts in the province’s territorial waters with the only vessels exempted from the rule being cargo vessels, fishing boats, and government-owned vessels.

“Your relatives in Manila [have] been doing this, so for, about three weeks already and they’re managing it, so, let us also do our share here in Negros Occidental,” Lacson added./DGB, WDJ