THE City Government of Alaminos has postponed the annual celebration of the Hundred Islands Festival set in March and other related activities due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

"The Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Tourism issued a joint statement assuring the public that it is safe to organize and attend public gatherings, meetings, and festivals as long as all the precautionary measures are observed. Nonetheless, the City Government postponed the festival and other related activities as a precautionary measure," said Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste in his Executive Order (EO) 12, series of 2020 issued on February 20.

Celeste also included the suspension of off-campus activities in accordance with the Department of Education (DepEd)'s Memorandum 15, series of 2020 titled "First Set of Policy Directives of the DepEd's Task Force Covid-19."

"If this off-campus suspension is lifted by DepEd, all off-campus activities are hereby allowed, provided they must strictly implement the DOH guidelines," he said.

Meanwhile, the use of public facilities owned and supervised by the city may be used provided the organizers will strictly implement guidelines issued by the DOH, Celeste said.

The DOH's guidelines for public gatherings include regular handwashing; monitoring of participants with infrared thermometers; use of surgical mask; provision and use of sanitizers or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol; provision of wastebaskets for proper disposal for all wastes; and seeking of medical attention if signs of cough, colds, sore throat and fever appear. (PNA)