BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA AND IME SORNITO
ILOILO – Following the suspension of sea trips between Bacolod City and Iloilo City (and vice versa) due to the latter being placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the regional taskforces extended such suspension to Iloilo province, too, specifically Dumangas town where there’s a seaport.
In a joint advisory, the Regional Task Force (RTF) COVID-19 and Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) in Western Visayas ordered local government units to impose a seven-day (May 25-May 31) travel moratorium between the areas. It was duly approved by Interior secretary Eduardo Año.
In an interview with Panay News, Cindy Ferrer, spokesperson of the RTF, said the move was in response to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s request of including the province to the travel ban.
The province must go hand-in-hand with the city’s suspension “kay indi mo na karon mapuslan ang travel ban between Iloilo City and Negros Island kon dira ka maagi sa Dumangas port,” Defensor earlier stressed.
Authorized persons outside residence (APORs) are included in the travel suspension, except those uniformed personnel, health personnel and those engaging in humanitarian assistance.
Moreover, movement of cargoes between the two islands shall remain unimpeded.
Ferrer also urged affected individuals, especially employees, to coordinate with their respective offices as to their work arrangements.
“One week man lang ‘ni or indi gani kalab-ot, so patapuson ta lang anay ang travel suspension,” Ferrer siad.
On the other hand, Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson appealed for cooperation from the public.
“Let’s just help Iloilo if this is a way of stopping the surge (in COVID-19 cases). Let’s be part of the solution,” Lacson said.
The stricter MECQ status for Iloilo City was approved by the national IATF over the weekend./PN
