Iloilo, Aklan Provinces Impose Travel Bans To Prevent COVID-19
COVID-19 – The local governments of the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan, as well as Iloilo City, are imposing travel ban in order to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Iloilo City
According to Panay News, Jerry Treñas, mayor of Iloilo City issued Executive Order (EO) No. 050 , which takes effect today. The EO bans the “non-essential entry of persons travelling by sea” until the 14th of April.
“Around the Philippines, the COVID-19 situation continues to grow rapidly,”
The EO identified the following as “non-essential entry”:
- people travelling by sea from Metro Manila (and its cities), Batangas seaport through the roll-on/roll-off ports
- people travelling by sea who, prior to entering Iloilo City, can be shown to have come from the 120 countries identified by the World Health Organization as having cases of COVID-19
Treñas added that the border restriction for air travel is under the jurisdiction of the province of Iloilo, adding that they already closed borders.
The Iloilo Airport is found in Cabatuan town, Iloilo.
Also among the list of “non-essential entry” are immune-compromised people or those who are at a higher chance of being infected by the Coronaviruse disease 2019 like senior citizens, children, and pregnant women.
“They shall be subjected to the protocols, decision tools and triages issued by accredited health authorities, and escorted to their respective residences for voluntary home quarantine,”
The Iloilo mayor also announced that the cancellation of classes, which begins today, will be extended until April 14.
“All students are required to stay at home and be safe to prevent the spread of the virus,”
Iloilo Province
As per the report, meanwhile in the entire Iloilo province, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. also issued a travel ban EO as a portion of a “general community quarantine” enacted over the entire province.
The EO urged “rationalized/flexible work arrangements in the private sector” and also issued the suspension of classes in all levels also until April 14.
The ban, according to Defensor, plans to “further strengthen the imposition of quarantine procedures and disease prevention and control measures.”
The travel ban exempts only the following:
- government officials and employees travelling in the performance/pursuit of their functions
- medical personnel and health workers who shall be performing functions in relation to COVID-19 in the province
- residents of Iloilo City travelling therefrom and into the province
- returning residents of Iloilo provided that they shall only have until March 17, 2020 to enter the province
The governor also urged common travel carriers to advice people planning to travel to the province about the ban; reject issuance of any public transport contract/ticket; and/or refuse boarding on public transport, in so far as applicable.
Furthermore, people travelling on common carriers and/or transport for the conduct of trade, delivery of social/humanitarian services, fishing/marine activities, and other essential purposes will be handled in pursuance to the Republic Act (RA) No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and RA No. 9271 or the Quarantine Act of 2004.
“Persons who enter the province in violation of the restriction shall be placed under quarantine for 14 days pursuant to the COVID-19 decision tool,”
Aklan
Gov. Florencio Miraflores of Aklan province also issued a travel ban EO which also take effect today.
As always, exempted from the EO are the following:
- Aklanons
- persons involve in the delivery of goods and commodities
- medical doctors working in the province
- national government officials and employees, members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and medical practitioners deployed to Aklan
- returning medical personnel who accompanied patients needing immediate medical care outside the province
- returning officials or employees of the provincial, municipal and barangay governments
Like the other two, Miraflores also cancelled classes in all levels in public and private schools starting March 16 until April 15.
What do you think? How will you react to this? Let us know more about it in the comments below.
READ ALSO: Mayor Leonardia Placed Bacolod City Under Community Quarantine
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