All roads going to Dauis will still be temporary closed until midnight based on the executive order of Mayor Miriam Sumaylo aimed at controlling the influx of people as the town celebrates its annual fiesta in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption, the town’s Patron Saint.

This decision is based on Mayor Miriam Sumaylo’s Executive Order (EO) No. 32-A, mandating the temporary closure of all entry roads leading to the town during the annual fiesta celebration from August 14, 15, and 16, 2020.

The EO is issued to regulate the influx of people pursuant to provincial EO No. 33 issued by Gov. Arthur Yap.

Sumaylo said in a radio interview over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” program hosted by Ardy Batoy and Gloria Araneta on Thursday, August 13, 2020, that this year’s fiesta celebration is quite different due to the health threats posed by the coronavirus disease (Covid).

She said that this year, the fiesta should be celebrated among family members living in the same household as the town residents are not allowed to accept guests—as part of the measure to prevent the possible spread of the Covid virus.

The closure of the entry roads to Dauis started on Friday and will remain closed until midnight of the 16th, the mayor said. Therefore, people who are proceeding to Panglao are allowed to pass through Dauis as long as they make no stops while they are in Dauis town’s jurisdiction, during the three-day lockdown. This is the same set-up for people from Panglao passing through Dauis bound for Tagbilaran. However, travelers may stop at the checkpoint areas for verification purposes.

It should be noted, the mayor said, that Dauis residents who will travel to other places need to bring home quarantine passes or employment IDs. The mayor also clarified that Dauis residents are allowed to enter and exit the town’s jurisdiction, anytime-subject to the general curfew rule which is from 9 pm to 5 am the following day. 

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER

The stipulations of the EO is being published here en toto for the public’s easy reference.

SECTION I. The following entry roads shall be temporarily closed. 

a. Entrance at Poblacion Police Outpost

b. Entrance at Totolan Causeway Police Outpost

c. Boundary Dao – Libaong, Panglao National Highway

d. Boundary Tinago -Lourdes, Panglao National Highway

e. Boundary Bingag -Tangnan, Panglao National Highway 

SECTION 2.a. Despite the entry-roads closures specified above, access shall remain open at all times for Dauis residents, frontliners, employees of exempted establishments mentioned in EO. 33 of Governor Arthur Yap who are working in Dauis, Municipal and Barangay Officials/Employees and Priests. They should present their Quarantine Pass, Workers Pass, Employment IDs or Certificate of Employment and Delivery Pass at the quarantine control checkpoints. As usual, wearing of face masks and social distancing shall be observed. Entry shall be allowed in cases of medical emergencies. 

SECTION 2.b. The people of Panglao could pass through the municipality but could not make a stop to any place in the Municipality of Dauis. 

SECTION 3. Public Transportations can enter the temporarily closed entry roads, provided that: 

a. Drivers and/or conductors of public transportation must ensure that they only convey those individuals mentioned in section 2.

SECTION 4. The PNP, BFP, MHO-DERU shall lead the five (5) control checkpoints with the PNP Chief of Police as Chairman of the Committee.

SECTION 5. All Barangay Tanods and Barangay Officials in the Municipality of Dauis shall closely cooperate and coordinate with the PNP. 

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVITY. This Executive Order shall take effect on August 14, 2020 at 12:01 in the morning and will end on August 16, 2020 at 12:00 midnight.

MAYOR’S APPEAL

She said that people should not stop celebrating the fiesta, although a whole lot different this year because of the pandemic.

Sumaylo hopes the people of Dauis would understand the reason to impose a lockdown because the directive is for the welfare and safety of the residents.