Mayor suspends ‘San Juan’ celebration

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio.Leonardia ordered the suspension of the celebration of St. John the Baptist Day or San Juan to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Leonardia issued Executive Order No.32 on Saturday suspending the public celebration of the traditional St. John the Baptist celebration, excursions, picnics, revelries, and similar activities on June 24, 2021.

The EO noted that the city has been experiencing a spike in COVID-19 infections for the past 14 days of June 2021, with the Department of Health, Region VI, classifying Bacolod City as “high-risk” area for COVID-19.

He also cited that facts and scientific studies supported by empirical data have undoubtedly established that unrestrained interaction among people like mass gatherings, unnecessary leisure, non-essential activities, and all other similar conduct of affairs without regard to the dangers of the pandemic, can be an effective channel of transmitting and spreading infections, like the COVID-19, among the population.

Leonardia further said in his issued E.O. that “on the basis of the foregoing, it became imperative to call for consultative meetings with different business operators concerned last June 18, 2021 at Brgy. Punta Taytay (held at Brgy. Punta Taytay Gym) and on June 19, 2021 covering Brgys. Granada and Alangilan (held at Brgy. Alangilan Gym) to obtain their respective cooperation in suspending business operations in these areas on June 24, 2021.

He said the result of the meeting prompted the issuance of the EO.

Leonardia further said that public health and safety concerns were taken up and well-considered by the EOC, especially the existing imminent threat to life and safety of the constituents of Bacolod City and its neighboring LGUs.

He said “this Executive Order becomes indispensable for stricter measures in the conduct of businesses and activities during June 24, 2021 [the Feast of St. John the Baptist (San Juan)], particularly, in suspending the traditional St. John the Baptist (San Juan) festivities/excursions/picnics/revelries/any other similar activities in public places that may cause the unwanted spread and indiscriminate contagion of this infection in the said localities/communities.

On June 19, 2020, Bacolod logged 191 new cases and 66 new recoveries.