By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson backs the decision made by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) to place the province under a stricter general community quarantine (GCQ) status and won’t appeal for the more lenient modified GCQ (MGCQ).
In a phone interview yesterday morning, Lacson said even though the province was placed under MGCQ for the month of June, they have already been implementing guidelines that are supposed to be enforced under a GCQ status such as limiting establishment occupancy at 30 percent.
Lacson said even the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force has not called his attention, as he had requested them to allow the province to enforce a 30 percent limitation for mass gatherings and occupancy.
The governor said placing the province under the stricter GCQ won’t make a difference, except several protocols such as senior citizens and minors not being allowed to go out of their homes and amusement parks are closed down.
“Even the Capitol Lagoon is only limited for adults and for physical exercises only,” Lacson said.
Even though Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque already stated that gatherings in GCQ areas are limited to a maximum of 30 to 50 percent, the Negros Occidental governor opted for a maximum 30 percent instead to control the spread of COVID-19.
As for the current curfew hours in the province, Lacson said they will retain the 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew, while “E-sabong” or online cockfightings will also be suspended until the province goes back to MGCQ status.
“I am calling on Negrenses especially the seniors who have not been vaccinated yet to please avail. I am also appealing again to everyone to always observe minimum health protocols,” Lacson said.
The governor also issued yesterday afternoon Executive Order No. 21-33, Series of 2021 placing the entire province of Negros Occidental under GCQ until July 31, 2021./DGB, WDJ