Closure of Art District establishments pushed

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – The Emergency Operations Center here recommended the closure of establishments at the Art District that were involved in the breach of minimum health standards and social distancing protocols against COVID-19.

An event held recently that was attended by a big crowd who mostly did not wear face masks and stood close to each other triggered the recommendation.

In a statement, the EOC said that on Nov 6, 2020, they received reports of the breach of minimum health standards and social distancing protocols as well as violation of General Community Quarantine guidelines and the liquor ban at the Art District.

The statement said the EOC immediately coordinated the matter with the local police station, the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT), and barangay officials.

A composite team was then formed and visited the establishments on Nov 7.

As a result, the EOC said that “we admonished the management of the art district and their respective tenants to strictly adhere to the protocols and standards set by the city of Bacolod, the local and national Inter-Agency Task Force pertaining to our coordinated efforts against the corona virus 2019 or COVID-19. We strongly recommend the closure of the establishments involved in the said incident until further action by concerned offices/ agencies.”

Earlier, the organizer of Viva ExCon 2020 issued a statement to shed light on the incident.

In a statement, the organizer explained that the event was in preparation for this year’s Viva ExCon opening slated last November 8 via Zoom and was meant to kick off the virtual conference.

An exhibition was organized for the sole purpose of simulating a live opening for video recording.

The organizer said there was no event, no invitation was sent, and no announcement was made.

“It was unfortunate that it attracted the usual Art District crowd and management was not able to control their enthusiasm. However, the organizers did stop the activity after sufficient takes so as to disperse the crowd,” the organizer said.

The Art District remained closed days after the event.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Bacolod City has forwarded to DILG-Western Visayas the report on the alleged holding of a mass gathering at the place on the evening of Nov 6.

DILG-Bacolod Director Ma. Joy Marideth Madayag, in a memorandum dated Nov 7, said the videos circulating online showed people partying without face masks, no social distancing and consuming alcohol in public.

The City Health Office noted several health protocol violations in the videos including not wearing of face masks, not observing physical distancing, liquor ban, and holding of mass gathering while the city is under General Community Quarantine.

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), for its part, is now coordinating with the City Legal Office (CLO) to determine the violations committed by restobar owners who allegedly allowed a mass gathering in the area.