BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) 23, strongly discouraging the acts of handshaking, "pagmamano," hugging, kissing on the cheeks or "beso-beso," and other forms of greetings involving physical contact.
The EO was signed by Leonardia on March 17.
Leonardia said handshaking, "pagmamano," hugging, kissing on the cheeks or "beso-beso," and other forms of greetings involving physical contact shall be strongly discouraged to further promote social distancing.
Instead, Bacolodnons are encouraged to live up that cultural distinction of being citizens of the City of Smiles and to behave accordingly on the basis without need of physical contract to greet one another.
He said it has long been a part of Filipino culture to greet each other, particularly the elders, in a manner that involves physical contact, a common example of which is the practice of "beso-beso" and "pagmamano."
"Every Bacolodnon should do his part in preventing the spread of the dreaded virus, even in the most basic means, by practicing social distancing," he added.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on March 7, 2020 the first local transmission of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the Philippines.
On March 8, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 922, declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines.
The WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic on March 11.
On March 15, the City Government of Bacolod also declared a state of general community quarantine to further protect its citizens.
Leonardia said the current situation calls for the employment of all means necessary to combat the spread of Covid-19.
He said the DOH had advised "social distancing" as primary precautionary measure to stop or slow down the spread of Covid-19.
"This executive order shall take immediately and shall remain in effect until our city has been declared by the DOH as free of the threat of Covid-19 contagion," he added.
