CORTES, Bohol, Nov. 25 (PIA) -- Minors below 15 years old and elderly who are over 65 years old can now go out of their homes three days in a week, as Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap issued Executive Order No. 52-A which amended Section 1 of Executive Order No. 52, series of 2020.
The amendment came a week after the previous executive order which amended the Guidelines under a State of Modified General Community Quarantine, to conform with the changes necessary after the national Inter Agency task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases presented Resolution No. 79, dated Oct. 15, 2020.
The said resolution adjusted the age-based restrictions which now includes those who are below 15 and above 65 years old, and that local government units retain the authority to impose higher age limitations for minors depending on the COVID-19 cases in their jurisdictions.
It may be recalled that in March, the governor issued Executive Order No. 16 which imposed a 24-hour provincewide curfew on minors and senior citizens to protect those who are at high risk of infection from the deadly virus.
For minors, the Executive Order would be a pro-active step to deny the virus the chance to find a host as the young people are notably the most mobile.
But after a few days, the governor, who saw a problem on the implementation of the order to minors and senior citizens who are actively engaged in agriculture and food production, issued another Executive Order 16-A to exempt these people who are engaged in putting food on the Boholano table.
Over a month later, the governor issued his first amendment to E.O. 16, and E.O. No. 16-A, he again issued an amendment with Executive Order No. 28 series of 2020 which he signed on April 29.
Section 3 of Executive Order No. 28 proposed another amendment to Executive Order No. 16 and 16-A, by stating that senior citizens aged 65 years old and above shall be allowed to go out on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For minors, the order says they will be allowed to go out on Mondays and Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but they have to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
This was changed again when Bohol ruled through Executive Order No. 28-A that minors may now go out from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, while senior citizens are allowed to break the curfew and go out of their homes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
However, with Executive Order No. 52, which the governor signed and issued on Nov. 13, 2020, it stated that “stay at home directives for persons below 15 years old and over 65 years old shall remain to be the general rule.”
However, on Nov. 20, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Bohol Chapter passed a resolution recommending the adoption of new schedule exempting minors and senior citizens covered by the provincewide curfew.
Executive Order No. 52-A was issued where it states, as an exception, minors below 15 years old may be allowed to go out of their homes on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays, while those over 65 years old may be allowed to go out of their homes on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
The order, however, does not apply to minors and senior citizens with immune deficiencies, co-morbidities, and other health risks, as well as pregnant women.
According to the said E.O., they shall be required to remain in their homes at all times. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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