Curfew lifted with exception: Cebu City moves on

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has issued an executive order institutionalizing measures and approaches designed to promote health, economic recovery, and freedom with shared responsibility, to move forward from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other calamities.

Executive Order No. 163, also called as Oplan Kagawasan, was signed by Rama during the city’s 85th Charter Day celebration yesterday, February 24, 2022 or about two years since the pandemic reached the city.

“On February 14, 2022, the Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) has declared City of Cebu to be under Alert Level 2 from February 16 to 28, 2022. On the other hand, people have been longing to be free from restrictions but freedom at this time is best exercised with shared responsibility,” read EO 163.

Section 2 provides that the observance of curfew is formally lifted except the curfew on minors which must be observed and enforced from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. pursuant to an existing City Ordinance.

In addition, all establishments, persons, and activities shall be permitted to operate, work, or be undertaken regardless of age and vaccination status of persons.

This, provided that minimum public health standards such as wearing of face mask; observing physical distancing; doing frequent hand-washing and/or using disinfectant, alcohol-based hand sanitizer; following the proper coughing etiquette; and staying at home and/or going home if not feeling well shall be strictly observed at all times.

The city’s incentivized vaccination program shall be continuous.

All are encouraged to be COVID-19 vaccinated as a measure of self-preservation and protection.

“In an effort to promote self-regulation, all establishments, persons, and families are directed to set and impose protective health protocols and action plans. This includes the installation of facilities and devices which improve air circulation and proper ventilation,” read Section 4.

“For this purpose, all persons are enjoined to carry out a shared responsibility in the maintenance and promotion of a safe and healthy place and environment for all,” it added.

Atty. Collin Rosell, Emissary to the Mayor, said EO 163 is already in effect starting yesterday.

Rosell stressed that the order requires each and everyone to be very careful not only for their own safety but also for others.

“Kung dili ta ingon ana, ang tendency malibog na ang tawo sa kadugay na’ng panahon diin daghan kaayo restrictions unya malibog na. Wala pa ang bakuna naa na ang restrictions, naabot na ang bakuna, nag-promote sa bakuna para maabot gyud nga makagawas nata karon sa City of Cebu. Klaro man na siya nga more than 70 percent ta sa atong vaccination. Kana pa lang daan gi-recognize na sa IATF nga i-grant gani og additional 20 percent sa capacity kung maabot ka ana,” Rosell said.

“Ikaduha dunay mga establisyemento dunay safety seal na kay sa ila mismong lugar tagsa-tagsa naa man sila’y gipahigayon nga pagpugong sa pagkuyanap sa infection,” he added.

The capacity of the establishments is already 100 percent, but Rosell said that it cannot still be applied because basic health protocols, particularly social distancing, will still be implemented as highlighted in the EO.

Rama instructed the police to focus on the implementation of his latest EO.

He signed EO 163 at the Plaza Sugbu yesterday after Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s Charter Day message.

Garcia, who graced the celebration yesterday morning, said that the Province of Cebu and the City of Cebu will remain united as both continue to rise despite the hardships they have gone through.

“On this 85th historic celebration of the Charter Anniversary of Cebu allow me to say as Governor of the Province of Cebu, the Province is one with the City of Cebu as we move on, move forward  and achieve even greater heights of progress and development because kita mga Sugbuanon,” said Garcia. — JMD (FREEMAN)