The economy of Antique’s capital town San Jose de Buenavista is starting to pick up since its de-escalation to Alert Level 1 on April 1.
Mayor Elmer Untaran said the downgrading by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF MEIDS) of their municipality has enabled the malls and other business establishments to reopen with 100-percent capacity.
“Sooner, the movie world here in our town will also reopen,” he said.
The Robinsons Mall in San Jose de Buenavista, which operates the only movie house in the municipality, had already manifested its intention to reopen.
Untaran said even children aged 5 years and below are already allowed to enter the malls with their parents or guardians to dine or shop with them provided they wear face masks.
“Since we are already under Alert Level 1, we will be celebrating our ‘Tiringbanay’ Festival on April 30 and May 1,” he said.
The Tiringbanay, which means being together, is a yearly festival being looked forward to by residents of San Jose de Buenavista who come home to their hometown for their family gatherings and to attend the feast of their patron, St. Joseph the Worker.
Cultural presentations, exhibits of local products, and various other activities were held.
However, the festival was stopped because of the pandemic.
“Our celebration this year will still be simple though with the holding of the medical-dental activity on April 30 and a mass on May 1,” he said.
Untaran said that although their hometown has already been reclassified under Alert Level 1, residents are reminded to continue implementing strictly the health protocol, such as wearing of facemask and safe physical distancing.
San Jose de Buenavista has been reclassified under Alert Level 1 because of its high vaccination accomplishment of 98.21 percent, which is equivalent to 52,578 individuals already fully vaccinated based on the Integrated Provincial Health Office report on April 1.PNA
