ILOILO City – The provincial government of Antique will seal its borders starting Tuesday until the next 14 days in a bid to safely control movement in and out of the province.
“I decided with Cong. Loren Legarda nga may 14 days kami nga lockdown or border restrictions. Kadamo sang mga Antiqueños nga nagpauli halin sa Manila,” Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said, adding this move is necessary to curb spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced that Metro Manila’s 12 million people would be placed under “community quarantine” to contain the fast-spreading disease.
Travel – whether by land, sea or domestic air – in and out of the country’s capital will be prohibited.
But before Metro Manila is sealed off on Sunday, several people chose to return to their home provinces.
This prompted health authorities to place travelers who are outside the National Capital Region as persons under monitoring.
For her part, Cadiao appealed to all Antiqueños to finish all personal business outside of the province and return on or before Monday prior to the implementation of border restriction.
She said that border restriction is consistent with the national policies and guidelines set by the national government in order to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Cadiao also said that she will enforce measures that other government officials in Panay Island and Guimaras will take should the province’s 14-day community quarantine lapsed.
Meanwhile, all those with medical needs will be provided assistance through the free medical aid programs of Legarda and Cadiao.
To date, the Philippines has recorded 111 cases of COVID-19, including 8 fatalities as of March 14.
The virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected more than 132,000 and killed nearly 5,000 in 122 countries and territories, latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed. /PN
