Netizens confused with weekend ‘lockdown’

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Netizens took to social media Friday as they claimed confusion brought about by the reported lockdown here and the province of Negros Occidental dubbed as “Timeout Weekend.”

Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an executive order Thursday imposing a citywide “four-day no movement” period over Bacolod City starting Aug 28-31, 2020 while COVID-19 mass testing is underway.

In Executive Order No. 55, Series of 2020, Leonardia said entering and exiting Bacolod, and movement within the city will be prohibited during the Timeout Weekend.

The 4-day lockdown here and in Negros Occidental was to give way to the mass testing of 10,000 persons exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

While the Timeout Weekend was approved by the regional Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, it failed to get the nod of the national IATF.

Bacolodnons resorted to panic buying Thursday evening in preparation for the supposed “lockdown.”

Some netizens said the “no movement” order is in itself a lockdown.

To enforce the restriction on people’s movement, the PNP set up border check-up points during the four-day period, Leonardia’s EO said.

Police and force multipliers were deployed to COVID-19 testing centers to ensure the implementation of the program, public safety and peace and order, it added.

The four-day no movement period is a pro-active measure to enhance the detection of COVID-19 positive cases in order to reduce the transmission rate in the city and province.

In an advisory Thursday night, the Public Information Office said that “to clarify misinterpretations over the attendant circumstances on the 2-day mass testing scheduled Aug 28-29, let it be reiterated that the provisions of EO 55 will continue to be implemented. Our City officials will make an assessment of the project after the mass testing period.”

On Thursday afternoon, Lacson said only targeted lockdown will be implemented in four localities in the province where the mass testing for 5,000 symptomatic residents will be conducted on Aug 30-31.

Mass testing was conducted in 18 testing centers in Bacolod City starting Friday until today.

Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the city’s inter-agency task force against COVID-19, said the mass testing will be conducted in barangays considered as “high risk” areas.

These are barangays Estefania, Banago, Bata, Mandalagan, Granada, Sum-ag, Singcang Airport, Taculing, Villamonte and Tangub.