CEBU City is now under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) together with the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay and the town of Consolacion. A reminder to everyone that MGCQ doesn't mean that we are now free to move anywhere and not to observe the health protocols. Otherwise, God forbids, we would revert to ECQ if there would be a spike in Covid-19 cases.
For Cebu City residents, read Executive Order (EO) 089 to avoid arrest. The EO prohibits the following: 1) traditional cockfighting and operation of cockpit; 2) beerhouses and similar establishments (nightclubs) that serve alcohol; 3) kid amusement industries; 4) entertainment industries (cinemas, theaters, etc); and 5) concerts and concert halls. There is also a total ban on liquor in public places. To the inebriate gamblers of all sorts of gambling, beware!
Under Mayo Edgar Labella's EO, religious services, sporting events, and work conferences are limited to 50 percent seating or venue capacity. Celebrations of fiestas and festivals are also not allowed.
Sorry folks to frustrate your thinking that MGCQ is a relaxed quarantine and that you're free to move anywhere because it's not. We are still under quarantine and Covid-19 is still much around, particularly in enclosed and crowded places. The purpose of MGCQ is to reopen non-essential businesses allowed under EO 089 to spur our almost dried up economy.
Those who plan, particularly the residents of Cebu City, to hold parties or go out of their residences for purpose of leisure, better shelve it because under EO 089, the strict quarantine procedure is still enforced. Except for authorized persons outside of residence (APOR), not everyone could go out of their residence except to access basic goods and necessities. A quarantine pass is still required for those who are not APORs.
However, EO 089 should be strictly enforced because experience would tell us that when Cebu City was downgraded to GCQ from ECQ in June, there was tremendous increase in Covid-19 cases because many people went out of their residence and some did not anymore observe the minimum health protocols of wearing face mask and social distancing while in public or crowd.
As a matter of fact, many, including the fish vendors and those selling basic necessities in public markets, as well as those who go to the public markets or malls, do not comply with the minimum health protocols of wearing face mask and social distancing. The problem is that most people still lack discipline and courtesy. They would only observe the health protocols if law enforcers are around.
Under EO 089, the penalty is broad as there are no specifics and it only refers to earlier EOs and existing national laws and city ordinances. For violators, this is scary because the prosecutor has the prerogative to choose which law to file. The curfew is set at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Under a Cebu City Ordinance, it's now mandatory to wear face mask when in public places or in a crowd.
The EOs of the Cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay and the rest of the local government units in Cebu should also be similar to Cebu City's EO 089 so that compliance of the health and quarantine protocols would, at least, be uniformed since most APORs would be crisscrossing these places.
So, it's Christmas because the Ber months are here. But, how I wish we could celebrate Christmas with family, relatives and friends as Jose Mari Chan sings his "A Perfect Christmas." Covid-19, you better go home now to where you come from!