Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has requested the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to approve a travel moratorium for all travels, including land, air, and sea, to Negros Occidental for two weeks.
“I believe that this is imperative in order to protect our constituents, our local economy, and our future as a province. If I stand idly, I fear that our gains in the past year will be put to waste, to the detriment of our people,” Lacson said in a letter dated March 20, 2021 addressed to Health Secretary Francisco and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei, IATF chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively.
The governor’s letter-request was accompanied by graphic illustrations and figures showing that the introduction of the uniform travel protocols on March 15, based on IATF Resolution No. 101, has resulted to an increased number of COVID-19 cases in the province.
“Prior to the adoption of Resolution 101, our provincial health and travel protocols were able to manage the spread of the virus in the local communities. Component local government units were able to report 0 to 10 confirmed cases in their jurisdiction on Feb. 23 with exception of Silay, which reported 13,” Lacson said.
He said, however, that the introduction of uniform travel protocols resulted in an increasing confirmed cases in LGUs, specifically Manapla, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, Calatrava, San Carlos and Sipalay.
Also, turned in results from the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital Molecular Laboratory showed an “alarming rise” in positivity rate to 5.95 percent from March 15 to 20, with locally-stranded individuals having 8.52 percent and domestic cases, 4.91 percent, he added.
“Furthermore, our daily census submitted by our quarantine administrator for E.B. Healing Center showed there is a drastic increase of COVID-19 cases from 22 individuals in Feb. 23 to 111 on March 20. Evidence suggests that the increase of domestic cases is directly proportional to the number of confirmed cases among LSIs,” the governor said.
He also said that the Provincial Quarantine Facility for COVID-19 confirmed cases with mild symptoms is nearly reaching its maximum capacity.
As this developed, the national government is imposing additional restrictions in Metro Manila and other areas under general community quarantine status from March 22 to April 4, 2021, Malacañang announced yesterday.
In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said additional restrictions were approved by President Rodrigo Duterte through IATF Resolution No. 104 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Starting today, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will be joining Metro Manila under the GCQ classification.
Roque dismissed as “fake news” that there would be hard lockdown in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
“Wala po tayong lockdown. Fake news po yung sinasabi na magkakaroon tayo ng circuit breaker. Hindi po totoo ‘yan. Ang Metro Manila po ay manananitili under GCQ kasama po ang mga probinsya ng Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, at Rizal (We won’t have a lockdown. Reports about a circuit breaker lockdown are fake news. That’s not true. Metro Manila will remain under GCQ along with the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal),” he said.
Under IATF Resolution No. 104, he said only essential travel into and out of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal will be allowed.
Roque described this as a “travel bubble” where residents will only be allowed to travel within their respective provinces.
“Bawal po ang pagbibiyahe papunta sa Metro Manila at mga probinsya ng Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal at bawal din po lumabas ng Metro Manila at ng Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal. Magkakaroon po tayo ng parang bubble dito sa NCR at probinsya ng Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal (Traveling into and out of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal will be prohibited. We will have a sort of bubble in NCR, and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal,” he said.
Travel of authorized persons outside their residences such as essential workers, health and emergency frontline services personnel; government officials and government frontline personnel; duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors; persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons; persons going to the airport for travel abroad, returning overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers will be unimpeded for as long as they show their respective work identification cards.
Individuals crossing zones for work or business and going back home will also be allowed to travel to and from the said areas.
“Kung kayo ay uuwi, essential travel po ‘yun. Kailangan lang magpakita ng ID kung saan ka talaga nakatira (If you’re going back home that’s essential travel. All you need to do is show your ID to prove that you live there),” he said.
He expressed hope the public would understand that additional restrictions in the said areas were being done “for the common good.” — NLG
