18 Antique towns enforce ‘courtesy’ border control

SAN JOSE, Antique – Beginning yesterday, Antique province’s 18 municipalities enforced what they termed as “courtesy border control” to regulate the movement of people and stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said the mayors, wary of rising COVID-19 cases, agreed on this following the National Inter-Agency Task Force’s rejection of the provincial government’s request for border restrictions.

“This will hopefully discourage people nga magsaylo-saylo from one town to another like San Jose to Sibalom. We should stop them from going town to town,” said Cadiao.

The 18 towns were Anini-y, Barbaza, Belison, Bugasong, Caluya, Culasi, Hamtic, Laua -an, Libertad, Pandan, Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier, and Valderrama.

The “courtesy border control” scheme involves the setting up of checkpoints in each of the towns’ entry and exit points.

Passersby would be asked if their trip is indeed necessary or essential, and they would be reminded to constantly observe health protocols (wearing of facemask and face shield), according to Cadiao.

As for residents of Iloilo and Aklan who wanted to enter Antique, Cadiao said they would be allowed.

However, she said, if their trip is not really necessary or essential, it would be better for them to just wait for two weeks before deciding to enter Antique.

Cadiao had the same appeal to Antiqueños wanting to go to Iloilo or Aklan, the only two provinces that share common borders with Antique.

As of April 4, Antique’s COVID-19 cases hit 271 (since recorded started in March 2020), with 130 currently active.

A total of 134 people in Antique have recovered from the disease while seven diead./PN   

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