TOLLING OF BELLS. The Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish Church in Sibalom, Antique. The Inter-Agency Task Force for Covid-19 has requested all churches in Antique to help them signal the start of curfew by ringing the bells. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has requested churches around the province to sound off their bells at exactly 8 p.m. to signal the start of the curfew.
Antique Police Provincial Office director, Col. Roy Parena, who chairs the IATF, in a press conference on Friday said churches are requested to help inform the public to stay inside their houses at the start of curfew.
“Church bells will ring and also the police sirens,” he said.
He said since the curfew was implemented last March 17 following Executive Order 35 that was issued by Governor Rhodora Cadiao last March 16. The police have been going around different areas of the municipalities with the help of the village watchmen who are their force multipliers.
“So far the people in the province cooperated well,” he said.
He said the police have yet to encounter any resistance from the public or any apprehension since the start of the curfew. The curfew covers all ages starting from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“The streets in Antique are even deserted at night,” he said.
The curfew that will last until April 1, 2020 exempts government officials and employees performing official duties or functions; government and private medical personnel or health workers; persons authorized to engage in business, commerce or industry; and suppliers and sellers of food items, medicines, and other necessities as well as hardware and construction materials.
Sugar migrants and call center agents, as well as media, are also exempted from the curfew. (PNA)
