By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 9 yesterday shifting the city under Alert Level 1 as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city continue to drastically drop.

As the city is now under the lowest category in the country’s COVID-19 alert level system, the mayor has also shortened the curfew time.

According to Section 4 of the EO, from the previous 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew, the city’s curfew is now at 12:00 midnight to 4:00 a.m. with exemptions for night shift workers, media practitioners, and public emergency services.

The liquor ban was also lifted while the city stays under Alert Level 1 until March 15.

Previously, the selling of liquor, wine, beer, or any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage in public places and the selling and consumption of such alcoholic beverages in authorized public places were allowed only from noon to 10:00 p.m.

Leonardia credited the people of Bacolod for their support and cooperation by observing the health protocols.

As of yesterday, Bacolod City only recorded two new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total active cases in the city to 203./DGB, WDJ