Capitol lifts curfew in province

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Iloilo Provincial Government has lifted the curfew hours it imposed on the province which is currently under coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Alert Level 1.

Provincial Ordinance No. 2022-280 passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) amended P.O. No. 2020-220 which imposed curfew hours in the entire province as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19.

Curfews were meant to restrict the movements of people in the evening until early morning the following day.

P.O. 2022-280 also set guidelines for new curfew hours on the following COVID-19 Alert Level Systems:

Alert Level 1 – no curfew

Alert Level 2 – from 12 midnight to 4 a.m.

Alert Level 3 – from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Alert Level 4 – from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Alert Level 5 – from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Before the P.O. 2020-220 was amended, the curfew hours in the province started from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. with exemptions for the following:

-Government officials and employees in the performances of their official duties and functions and those returning home from such performance of duties and functions;

-Medical professionals, healthcare providers, and those providing medical support services, in the performance of their tasks related to their profession or responding to an emergency and those returning home from such performance of duties;

-Those in the legal profession and their paralegals travelling to render legal assistance to clients undergoing custodial investigation;

-Those under medical emergency when travelling to a hospital or a clinic for treatment and those responding to emergency calls;

-Persons delivering food, medicines, essential basic necessities, and prime commodities;

-Those employed in the private sector, reporting for work and coming home from their place of work;

-Persons transiting for travel to the airport or seaport facilities;

-Persons providing basic services and public utilities except public transport.

Provincial Board Member June Mondejar, chairperson of the Committee on Public Order and Safety, said that it is just probably right to lift the curfew as Covid-19 cases in the province are easing.

“I think it is not that alarming already (COVID-19 cases) and we also want to help with the economic recovery of the province,” Mondejar said.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. also made the wearing of facemasks in open spaces in the province optional through Executive Order No. 260-G.

Under the EO, masks can be taken off when the person is eating and drinking; participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained; and practicing outdoor sports/exercise activities where physical distance can be maintained.

It is also stated that “well-fitted masks shall be worn properly in indoor private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air, or sea.”

As of Sept 5, 2022, the province has 1,164 active Covid-19 cases, while 87.67 percent of its population were already fully vaccinated, and 17.77 percent already had their first booster shot.