The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in Western Visayas has denied the request of Antique province to temporarily close its borders.

“Yes, gindeny ka IATF-6 ang border control,” Governor Rhodora Cadiao said on Sunday, April 4.

This means that travelers from within the region can go in and out of Antique.

Cadiao requested to ban the entry of “domestic travelers” from general community quarantine (GCQ) areas and places outside of the Antique” from April 5 until April 19.

The proposed suspension of travel aims to address the rising COVID-19 cases in province.

Based on data from the Department of Health (DOH-6), Antique, which is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), has 99 active cases of the deadly disease.

Meanwhile, the provincial government activated “courtesy border control between towns” to “ensure that proper health protocols are being observed by travelers.”

Cadiao appealed to the public to refrain for travelling for leisure purposes.IMT