Cebu Province to synchronize curfew hours

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is set to issue an executive order that would establish uniform curfew in all towns and cities in the province.

Garcia said she is aware that curfew hours is not the same in all local government units in Cebu Province and she urged all LGUs to conform to guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) and Department of Trade and Industry.

"We are now crafting another executive order addressed to all local government units in the province para naa tay uniformity kay kahibalo ko lain-lain ron and I wish to remind all LGUs nga let us conform to IATF and DTI guidelines," Garcia said during a press conference in Medellin town Thursday.

Medellin Vice Mayor Alfonso Lim told Garcia that their neighboring towns have different curfew hours.

"Naay LGUs nga 10 o’clock man ang curfew unya tupad o duol ra ba sa amoa, Gov, unya maglumba mi'g panagan kay 10 o’clock ang curfew nila while ang other LGUs is 12 o’clock," Lim said.

Section 6 of Garcia's Executive Order No. 20-A states that "curfew within the Province of Cebu shall be from 12:00 midnight to 5:00am of the following day."

The EO adopts protocols and guidelines that would govern tourism-related activities that promote the health and wellness of an individual, accommodation establishments, and dine-in or persons at restaurants.

Garcia issued the EO in line with DTI’s memorandum circular 20-39, which states that "All restaurants and fastfood businesses shall be allowed to operate until 11 p.m. Thus, LGUs are enjoined to adjust curfew hours up to 12 midnight to allow greater daily turnover of dine-in services and enhance income opportunities for workers."

“Now, ang ako karon nga executive order, wala pa to nako usba… alas 12, kay nisunod man ko sa gimando sa DTI… pagtabang man to sa atong service establishments, restaurants, and while even destinations like this, para pagtabang, kutob gyud alas 12 (midnight) ang curfew," Garcia said.

"Amo na ning gitun-an kada usa to remind all LGUs kani nga atong i-adopt, uniform guidelines," she said. — JMO (FREEMAN)