No More Dine-In, Group Gathering of 5 Persons

All hotels and resorts in Cebu will now be prohibited from accepting group bookings of more than five persons.

In the Executive Order (EO) No. 5-L issued on Monday night, March 23, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia prohibited the holding of group celebrations, parties, and other gatherings as well as island-hopping and diving activities.

The EO specifically stated that five or more persons gathered in an area is considered a gathering.

In a press conference on Tuesday, March 24, Garcia called on Moalboal Mayor Paz Rozgoni and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly implement the social distancing in beach resorts and public places.

This is after social media posts circulated online of foreigners lounging in the beach and a store in Moalboal violating the imposed regulations on social distancing.

“Padikit-dikit sila. Naa sila diri musunod sila nato (referring to foreign tourist),” the governor said.

Eating out in restaurants, fastfood chains and pizza parlos as well as eateries and carenderias will also be disallowed.

To provide time for fastfood and pizza chains, the prohibition will start on Wednesday, March 25 while dine-in in all restaurants, eateries and carenderias will no longer be allowed starting March 26.

“You will be given time to prepare for those in the provinces,” Garcia said in the local language.

“Dili na sab nato tugtan ang dine in or “carenderia-in”. Pangita mo’g paagi. I-deliver na lang na ngadto sa mga panimalay,” the governor said.

As to concerns of some who are still conducting online classes, the governor ordered its immediate suspension until further notice.

Golf courses in the province were told to temporarily close as well.

The EO also stated that members of the diplomatic and consular corps are exempted from the curfew restriction imposed by the EO 5-K issued earlier.

All chief executives of Cebu Province’s component towns and cities are enjoined to issue their own executive orders adopting EO 5-L to be supported by their local ordinance. (SN)