Presidential Consultant for Western Visayas Jane Javellana has “appealed” to local chief executives to unify their efforts in maintaining the status of Panay Island as coronavirus-free.
It would be better, Javellana said, if the mayor of Iloilo City and the governors of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, and Capiz come up with “one executive order imposing community quarantine.”
Yesterday, March 15, Iloilo City and the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan issued executive orders (EOs) limiting the movement of people in and out of their respective borders.
The province of Antique will also issue an EO closing its borders.
“If we can have one EO signed by all governors and Iloilo City mayor, it would be easier for the alignment in strict implementation of quarantine procedures and guidelines for air, sea, and land transportation and passengers,” Javellana said.
“This way, the procedures will be manageable and may impact in the disease prevention of the entire island of Panay. One EO and one task force to handle all inquiries and PRs,” she added.
The province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City also issued EOs implementing border restrictions.
Meanwhile, the island province of Guimaras issued an EO “suspending the entry and/or tours of guests from Metro Manila and those from other areas the Philippine with local transmission.”
Panay Island and other areas in the Western Visayas region remained free of COVID-19.
The Department of Health (DOH-6) recorded 65 patients under investigation (PUIs). Forty-three of them tested negative for COVID-19, 18 are awaiting test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila, and the rest are yet to undergo testing for the disease.IMT
