The province and city Iloilo have been placed under a month-long community quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Mayor Jerry Treñas issued executive orders (EO) on Sunday, March 15, regulating the entry of people to their borders.
“Considering the seriousness of the developing COVID-19 public health event, there is a need to raise the level of quarantine procedures and disease prevention and control measures,” said Defensor.
Under EO No. 028-C, people, especially from countries and areas in the Philippines that recorded local transmission of the deadly virus, will be denied entry.
The entry prohibition will be implemented until April 14, 2020.
“Returning residents of the province and city of Iloilo, provided that they shall have only until March 17, 2020 to enter the province,” the EO stated.
Those exempted from the restriction include government officials and employees travelling in the performance/pursuit of functions; medical personnel and health workers/humanitarian workers who shall be performing functions in relation to COVID-19 in the province; and residents of Iloilo City travelling therefrom and into the province.
“Persons travelling into the province on common carriers and/or transport for the conduct of trade, delivery of social/humanitarian services, fishing/ marine activities, scientific and academic pursuit and such other essential purposes, other than the carriage of passengers, shall be dealt with pursuant to Republic Act. No. 1132 and Republic Act No. 9271, and such other applicable laws and regulations,” the EO stated.
“Persons who enter the province in violation of the above restriction shall be placed under quarantine for 14 days pursuant to the COVID-19 decision tool as of March 13, 2020.”
The EO also ordered or local government units (LGUs) in the province “to abide by the directives of the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government on the imposition of General Community Quarantine.”
Private businesses are encouraged to implement “rationalized/flexible work arrangements, provided that the same shall not affect the levels of product/ work/services output.”
“All manufacturing, retail and service establishments are advised to remain open,” the EO stated.
On the other hand, classes in all levels in the province are suspended until April 14, 2020.
In Iloilo City, the non-essential entry of persons travelling by sea are prohibited beginning on March 16 at 12 midnight until April 14, 2020.
“The essential entry of persons into the city shall be defined exclusively and shall include only health care workers, authorized government officials, those travelling for medical and humanitarian reasons, persons providing basic services and public utilities, and essential skeletal workforce,” EO No. 059 stated.
Those persons coming from the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras and returning residents of Iloilo City “who have been tested, cleared, and declared by accredited health authorities as COVID-19 negative” will also be allowed to enter the city.
“Appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges or both shall be filed against those person/s who shall break the protocol and violate the EO, thereby endangering the lives of inhabitants of Iloilo City,” the EO stated.IMT
Photo of Defensor (left) and Treñas (right) by Arnold Almacen
