Bohol town imposes fiesta lockdown

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan. 11 (PIA) -- Cortes town will impose a four-day parochial fiesta lockdown and set up seven control points throughout the town.

This as local authorities attempt to implement measures to manage and prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus disease. 

Using the state policy of protecting and promoting the peoples’ right to health and instilling health consciousness among its citizens, Cortes Mayor Lynn Iven Lim issued Executive Order No. 01-001, series of 2021, issuing the guidelines during the fiesta celebration in honor of the Holy Child from Jan. 15-16, 2021. 

The expected influx of people and devotees of the Santo Nino has pushed the local authorities to impose guidelines in commemoration of the feast day, even as the local authorities also called on the full participation of residents during the celebration.

The mayor has officially ordered the ban on the entry of non-residents of the town beginning Jan. 14, 2021 until Jan. 17, 2021. 

The mayor has also ordered local authorities to set up border control points, with barangay tanods patrolling their areas to implement the order.

Border control points would be set up effective Jan. 14, 2021 in the Balilihan-Rosario highway boundary, Corella Balilihan Highway exit to Brgy. Patrocinio, exit to Brgy. Fatima, Corella exit to Brgy. New Lourdes, Corella and Tagbilaran City Access to Brgy. Lourdes, Tagbilaran to Tubigon Highway Junction to Cortes at Brgy. Salvador and at Junction to Cortes in Lilo-an Poblacion.

The order says non-residents would not be allowed to enter the town. 

The order, however, exempts Cortes residents, public utility buses, public utility jeepneys, tricycles, and private vehicles traversing the town with the passengers not allowed to disembark at any point.

Non-residents but working in Cortes would be asked to present identification cards or work passes, while residents who do not have quarantine passes should be able to present work or company identification cards.

Also exempted from the lockdown and could enter the town are COVID-19 frontliners; Philippine National Police, Burea of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, CAFGU, and allied law enforcement officers; government officials; bishops and priests who will conduct feast day masses; and residents of barangays Lourdes, Upper dela Paz, De La Paz, and other persons as may be allowed by law.

While the order implements a partial liquor ban, it also mandates moderation while drinking in private areas aslaw enforcement officials and barangay tanods lead in the implementation of the order.

Barangay officials are also tasked to ensure that laws, rules, and regulation are imposed in their areas of jurisdiction, and maintain maximum tolerance in their enforcement, keeping in mind their duty of the state to serve and protect.

The executive order also enjoins residents and concerned individuals to observe minimum health standards such as one-meter physical distancing, proper wearing of face masks and face shields, and frequent hand washing.

The order takes effect 12:02 a.m. of Jan. 14 and ends 12:00 noon of Jan. 17, 2021. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

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