By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will issue an executive order (EO) any time this week ordering the closure of all resorts in the province from June 23 to 25 coinciding with the celebration of the feast of St. John the Baptist.

This decision was agreed by all mayors in the province during a Zoom meeting on Friday, June 11.

The celebration is marked by Catholics by visiting resorts and tossing water at each other.

Lacson said the closure is aimed in preventing mass gatherings in beaches and mountain resorts in Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, ahead of the governor’s EO, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante has already issued EO SGE- 015- 2021 prohibiting all forms of social and mass gatherings, temporarily suspending the permits to operate of all resorts operating at beaches, rivers, lakes and parks in the city.

Escalante, in his EO, said that “all forms of social and mass gatherings are strictly prohibited until further orders.”

However, places of religious worship may continue to admit its members for religious worship, but shall be allowed only 30 percent of its venue capacity, the EO said.

It added that “Resorts operating at beaches, rivers, lakes, parks and the like are ordered temporarily closed while the upsurge of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cadiz City is ongoing.”

“Restaurants, coffee shops, fast food diners and other similar places for dining may continue to operate, but shall only be allowed to admit clients or customers up to 30 percent of its venue capacity,” the EO further stated.

Escalante explained that the “restrictions may cause inconvenience and financial difficulties in the already difficult situation of the city, public health experts have concluded that gatherings of any size can spread of COVID-19, thus they continue to be prohibited everywhere, especially at beaches and parks.”

“While summer continues, the preceding restrictions on gatherings on beaches and other waterscapes should necessarily be imposed,” the mayor said./DGB, WDJ