KUDOS to our dear Governor Bong Lacson for his decisive act ordering closure of borders in Negros Occidental. After all, it takes only one infected Covid-19 person to spread this terror virus to the whole community, depending on his movement and reach while still mobile. This we saw dramatically in the case of one councilor from Negros Oriental.
Yet, what does Gov. Lacson’s executive order mean by closing our provincial borders--as far north as Valle Hermoso-San Carlos, Kanlaon through the mountains and as far south as Hinobaan on the plains? Will the component cities? An implementing rules and regulation must be issued by the governor to make things clear for travelers--traders, “biyaheros”, and other ambulatory Negrosanons.
I think it should be made clear that within the province, residents of different towns and cities can go in and out, to and fro towns, cities and municipalities including Metro Bacolod. Already residents of Bacolod, and those from without are confused.
Of Bacolod’s executive order
Mayor Bing’s executive order (EO) restricting movement and congregating within Bacolod is pro-active, indeed a sound move. But the lack of delineation created confusion among Bacoledoños, especially churchgoers. For one thing, it did not clearly specify that the EO does not encroach on the rights of priests, pastors, and ministers to go on with congregational worship and prayers.
A netizen, Philip Khalid, asked me in one chat group, how I would react to calls for observance of strict caution in Metro Bacolod (including Silay, Talisay).
This is my take on Mayor Bing’s EO: There are no confirmed 2 cases yet of Covid-19 in Metro Bacolod, the basis for a community quarantine.
On another note, our province is blessed with houses of prayer in each city and town, from far north to far south, and the Kanlaon house of prayer in the “border” barangay in Kanlaon.
I believe in the power of prayer, as we continue to intercede for our province, and our nation, the Lord our healer is able to ward off viruses and pestilence.
We have to declare this act in faith, meaning while we exercise caution such as social distancing, covering our mouths when we cough, not touching our face and that of others, we should go on living our lives.
Daily economic activities should not totally stop, it must go on--kaluoy man ang mga gagmay nga manuglako, informal sector selling veggies, fish, mga piso capitalists, and native food vendors.