THE Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park in Bacolod City was opened to the public Monday, December 13, 2021, after nearly two years of closure due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, in an executive order (EO) issued Monday, December 13, said the park will be open from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said this is in accordance with the curfew hours being implemented in Negros Occidental, which is currently under Alert Level 2 in terms of Covid-19 transmission.
Diaz said vaccination cards are not required for anyone entering the park's premises for recreation or exercise purposes.
While all ages may now enter the park, the 70 percent occupancy will also be observed, he said.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2019, the lagoon has been closed. It was, however, earlier opened for certain physical activities like walking and jogging.
To mark the start of the Christmas season at the Capitol, a lights on ceremony was held at the Capitol grounds, including the lagoon and park Monday night.
An about 20-minute fireworks display treated revelers on top of other attractions, including the two giant Christmas trees and the dazzling Capitol Building facade.
The activity coincided with the celebration of the governor's birthday.
In his message, Lacson announced that each employee, regular or casual, of the Provincial Government will receive P65,000 in Christmas bonus.
Lacson said he will submit Tuesday, December 14, a request to the Provincial Board for such "extra blessings" for all the workers.
"I wish that all of us will remain in the peak of health always, Merry Christmas and Abanse Negrense," the governor said, as he reminded everyone "to look at our present circumstances in a different perspective."
Lacson added: "Yes, we are not allowed to have our usual pre-pandemic revelry; however, we also now have more time to deeply reflect and ponder on the significance of the birth of our savior."
