BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) No.35-A an order amending Sections 10, 16, 17, and 18 of EO No, 35 Series of 2020, an order placing the City of Bacolod under general community quarantine (GCQ) pursuant to the Omnibus Guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), as confirmed and adopted by Presidential Executive Order No. 112 dated April 30, 2020.
The EO signed by Leonardia on May 17 states that on May 16, Leonardia received a copy of the “(Amended) Omnibus Guidelines on the implementation of community quarantine in the Philippines,” issued by the national IATF-EID on May 15 which changed some parameters for the opening of businesses under categories I, II, and III , which were covered by Sections 16, 17, and 18 of said EO No. 35.
Leonardia said to ensure that Sections 16, 17, and 18 of said EO shall be in harmony with the changes promulgated in the “(Amended) Omnibus Guidelines on the implementation of community quarantine in the Philippines,” this EO is passed to replaced aforesaid sections.
He said there is also the need to provide for an additional exemption to Section 10 of EO No. 35 regarding the odd-even scheme affecting private vehicles of people living outside of Bacolod but who work or operate a business in Bacolod City.
“There is the further need to incorporate into Section 28 of EO No. 35 additional directives adopted in aforementioned AOG with regard to schools under the Department of Education (DepEd).
Amendment to Section 10 of the EO states that in order to ensure the uninterrupted conduct of public service, basic economic activities, and in consideration of medical needs, the following vehicles entering Bacolod City are exempted from the odd-even transport scheme: private vehicles used by citizens who live outside Bacolod but who may have employment in Bacolod or operate a business establishment in Bacolod shall be additional exemption to the odd-even scheme for out-of-town private vehicles entering Bacolod City, subject to the following conditions; employees must show their employment IDs when requested at border checkup points and be in their company uniforms for plain-view identification, if such uniforms are required by their employers. On Sundays, they must further show a certification from their employer that they are required to be on duty on Sunday; business owners must show their valid personal IDs and a copy of their business registration for 2020.
Amendment to Section 16 stated that power, energy, water, and other utilities, agriculture, fishery, and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, including food retail establishments such as supermarkets, grocery stores, and food preparation establishments insofar as take-out and delivery services, food delivery services, health-related establishments, the logistics sector, information technology and telecommunication companies, and the media shall be at full operational capacity.
Amendment to Section 17 states that mining and other manufacturing, and electronic commence companies, as well as other delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services, shall operate at anywhere between 50 percent up to full operational capacity, and without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements.
Amendment to Section 18 states that financial services, legal and accounting, and auditing services, professional, scientific, technical, and other non-leisure services and other non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments shall operate at 50 percent work-on-site arrangement, and without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements
Amendment to Section 28 states that for schools under the DepEd or basic education, residential or face-to-face classes shall be suspended for the duration of the GCQ; for academic year 2020-2021, the following shall be observed for the conduct of classes; for basic education, the basic education learning continuity plan of the DepEd is adopted, the essential points which are; opening of classes for the basic education shall be on August 24, 2020 and shall end on April 30, 2021; opening of private schools will be allowed within the period provided by law. Provided, that school learning continuity plan shall be submitted, no face-to-face classes will be allowed earlier than August 24, and from August 24, face-to-face learning shall only be allowed when the local risk severity grading permits, and subject to compliance with minimum health standards.
Adoption of various learning delivery options such as but not limited to face-to-face, blended learnings, distance learnings, and homeschooling and other modes of delivery shall be implemented depending on the local Covid-19 risk severity classification and compliance with minimum heath standard, and the conduct or curricular and co-curricular activities involving gatherings such as science fairs, showcase of portfolios, trade fairs, school sports, campus journalism, festival of talents, job fairs, and other similar activities is cancelled, except those conducted online.
Leonardia said all provisions of EO No. 35, Series of 2020, not amended or replaced herein are affirmed and shall continue to be in full force and effect.