A BUSINESS group is backing the move of the local government to implement a number coding scheme on the use of home quarantine passes in Bacolod City.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said such measure is needed amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Carbon said this will reduce the concentration of persons in public markets and grocery stores, among other establishments and points of convergence.
"It will be easier to practice and impose social or physical distancing," he added.
On Monday, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order (EO) No. 30 Series of 2020, an order prescribing the limitations on the use of the home quarantine pass during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the city.
Taking effect starting on April 15, the number coding scheme aims to further limit the movement of the people.
Under the EO, all holders of quarantine passes ending with odd number such as 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are allowed to go out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only.
While, those holders of quarantine passes ending with even numbers such as 2, 4, 6, 8 and 0 may go out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only.
No one is allowed to go out on Sunday, it added.
Leonardia said with the big volume of home quarantine passes issued, around 150,000, the city aims to institute a stricter regulation in its use by decreasing the number of people going out of their residences at any given time.
Also, by requiring certain essential business establishments to ask their customers to present their home quarantine pass or valid identification cards (IDs) in the case of essential workers.
Exempted from the number coding scheme are those rendering essential government services, frontline workers, persons requiring medical assistance, persons involved in the movement of cargoes and goods and workers providing essential services, the mayor said.
Supermarkets, groceries and public markets shall require all customers to present their valid IDs upon entry, those without the same shall not be allowed to enter.
Frontline and other essential government workers and those from the private sector providing essential services shall be exempted provided they present their IDs, he added.
The business group earlier expressed support to the move of the local government extending the ECQ for another two weeks, until April 30.
As this developed, the MBCCI calls for a stricter implementation of the EO on mandatory wearing of face masks in public places or outside residence.
"[We] hope they will also consider a policy prohibiting the harassment and violence of persons who are confirmed Covid19 case patient," its official said.