Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered the closure of all Negros Occidental borders effective immediately, while Mayor Evelio Leonardia declared a general community quarantine in Bacolod City last night following the death of a Tayasan, Negros Oriental, councilor, from the corona virus disease (COVID-19) yesterday.
“All borders, ports and airports of Negros Occidental are now declared closed effective immediately and shall remain in full force until April 14”, Lacson said in Executive Order No. 20-16 Series of 2000.
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City remained COVID-free as of yesterday.
The 65-year-old Tayasan councilor passed away at the Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City 11:09 a.m. yesterday, as the Iloilo and Cebu provincesalso closed their borders to travellers from Negros Island.
Negros Oriental is now under Medical Code Red Sub Level 2.
The COVID-19 death toll in the Philippines hit 11 with 140 infected persons, the Department of Health reported yesterday.
LACSON EO
Lacson last night said he issued Executive Order No. 20-16 Series of 2000 implementing the closure of the borders, ports and airports of Negros Occidental to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Negros Occidental.
Entry of persons into Negros Occidental will be restricted, except for duly identified residents of Negros Occidental, health workers responding to emergencies, members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, persons travelling for urgent medical or humanitarian reason s, and persons transporting essential goods, supplies and medicines.
The governor also ordered the full activation of the Inter-Agency COVID-19 Border Monitoring and Regulation Task Force to be composed of local government officials, the PNP, AFP, Philippine Coast Guard and the Civil Aviation Authority.
The task force is tasked with preventing the entry of persons into Negros Occidental not allowed under the executive order in the borders of Mabinay-Kabankalan, Bayawan-Hinoba-an, San Carlos-Vallehermoso, La Castell a na-Canlaon and other roads that may be used as entry points.
All air and sea travel s are banned during the effectivity of the executive order, Lacson said.
Operators and dispatchers of bus and other public utility vehicles will b e required to refrain from crossing the borders of Negros Occidental, and to check all passengers for COVID-19 symptoms prior to purchasing tickets and boarding, he added.
The Pro vincial Health Office will print health and information forms for all residents of Negros Occidental, the governor said.
The order also prohibits the spreading of fake news.
IN BACOLOD CITY
Leonardia said the issuance of Executive Order 21 Series of 2020 declaring a general community quarantine in Bacolod City has become imperative “with the quick and alarming increase in infections and deaths caused by COVID-19 all over the Philippines.”
During the general community quarantine all land, sea and air travel to and from Bacolod City will be restricted, the mayor said.
Movement of goods and cargoes to and from the city will not be hampered, he added. However, persons delivering such goods will be subjected to necessary health checking procedures, the mayor said.
The mayor orde red the coast guard and police to secure the ports and all borders of Bacolod City, and set up checkpoints at entry pointsto the city.
The general community quarantine will be subject to review as the COVID-19 situation develops, Leonardia said.
CEBU
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday issued Executive Order No. 5.1 implementing an immediate ban on the entry of domestic passengers from the Negros Island following the death of the Tayasan councilor.
The 30-day ban prohibits all domestic passengers arriving in Cebu by sea from all Negros Island ports.
Cebuanos who are in transit back or whose vessel just arrived in Cebu upon the effectivity of the executive order will be required to undergo a mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days.
ILOILO
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. also issued Executive Order No. 028-C Series of 2020 yesterday imposing a community quarantine on Iloilo and banning travel to the province until April 14.
He also suspended classes at all levels.
Exempted from the travel are government officials and employees travelling in the performance of their duties, and medical personal/health workers performing functions in relation to COVI-19.
Residents of Iloilo returning to the province will only have until tomorrow to do so, the order said.
Flights from Manila to Bacolod and back were also suspended starting yesterday in line with the month-long community quarantine imposed on Metro Manila.
Lacson on Saturday reiterated that all persons entering Negros Occidental from Manila are required to undergo 14-day home quarantine as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
Lacson also said a member of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan who was considered a Person Under Monitoring for COVID-19 last week has already been released from the hospital, although her tests results have yet to be released.
The person is feeling much better and the hospital saw it fit that she be released, Lacson said.
The Toboso councilor being monitored for COVID is also feeling much better although he still has cough, the governor added.
Lacson reiterated his call for prayers which he said is the most powerful weapon against COVID-19.
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
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