BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order suspending the public celebration of the BacoLaodiat Festival and all revelries during the Chinese New Year in February 2021 comply with health and safety protocols in stemming the local spread of the coronavirus.
Leonardia, who issued Executive Order (EO) No. 4 on Wednesday, February 11, 2021, said any public celebration of the BacoLaodiat Festival will be suspended.
Section 1 of the EO states that the celebration of the BacoLaodiat Festival on the date of the Chinese New Year, February 12, 2021, or any day of February 2021 (February 2021 BacoLaodiat Festival) and all its attendant revelries and activities are suspended.
Leonardia said the Business Permits and Licensing Office will not issue any business permit or license to operate any form of activities or events in connection with the February 2021 BacoLaodiat Festival.
“Any permit, license that may have already been issued or granted prior to this Executive Order is deemed revoked/canceled,” he said.
The city mayor also asked the City Council to avoid the issuance of any permit or license for any activity or event related to the celebration.
Leonardia said the facts and scientific studies supported by empirical data have undoubtedly established that mass gatherings can be an effective channel for transmitting and spreading infections, like the Covid-19, among the population.