BACOLOD City – The city of Escalante in Negros Occidental set an arrival schedule for residents stranded in the neighboring provinces of Cebu and Iloilo.
“The repatriation of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) shall be scheduled to prevent congestion and overcrowding in the quarantine facilities of Escalante City,” said Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. who issued Executive Order 21-002 for this on Tuesday.
Those coming from Cebu through the Tabuelan and Tuburan ports are only allowed every Sunday, Monday and Thursday. LSIs from Iloilo, meanwhile, could enter the city every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, all from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
EO 21-002 also lifted all border controls in the city except the seaport border for incoming individuals from Cebu.
LSIs from other parts of the country are required to coordinate with the local inter-agency task force (IATF) through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for their travel details at least five days before the expected date of arrival.
All LSIs must secure a travel authority from the Philippine National Police, medical clearance or health certificate from the health office where the LSI or returning overseas Filipino is stranded, and a notice of coordination and acceptance from the Escalante city government.
Upon arrival, the LSI is required to undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and will remain in the city’s quarantine facility until a negative result is released.
Negative result of RT-PCR test taken from a laboratory in Bacolod City within 48 hours from arrival will be accepted.
According to EO 21-002, LSIs are those returning residents from any part of the country who intend to stay in Escalante for two months and beyond, based on the national IATF guidelines.
The entry and acceptance of those who will stay for less than two months will be at the sound discretion of the local IATF, it added. (With a report from PNA/PN)
