Iloilo City and Iloilo province have reimposed strict border control and the quarantine pass system, respectively, due to the increasing number of new COVID-19 cases.

Starting on Tuesday, Aug. 24, checkpoints, or quarantine control points (QCPs) will be set up again in the city.

This measure, which also aims to stem the further spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the metropolis, was recommended by the City COVID-29 Team and the private sector.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said only essential personnel and authorized persons outside residence (APORs) will be allowed to enter the city.

“I have also instructed our compliance team to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of minimum health protocols in barangays,” he added.

According to Treñas, the border control operations will be suspended every Thursday to enable non-residents to avail of COVID-19 vaccine shots.

If the number of cases will continue to rise, Treñas said he might consider the issuance of quarantine passes.

“As long as there is movement of people, and those who are unvaccinated, cases will still continue to go up especially now that we have the community transmission possibly due to the Delta variant, Treñas added.

The city government likewise imposed an earlier curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. as part of the measures to lessen the transmission of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo provincial government started requiring quarantine passes in all 1,721 barangays until Aug. 31, 2021.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. issued a memorandum order on the enforcement of Executive Order No. 320-2021.

Only one member per household, based on the latest order, can use the passes when going out of their houses to access essential goods and services.

These passes will be checked at barangay control points.

Based on the August 23 bulletin issued by the Department of Health (DOH-6), the province and city of Iloilo have 3,739 and 1,348 active COVID-19 cases, respectively.IMT