ILOILO – The provincial government will be allowing non-essential travel and the inter-zonal movement of individuals classified as non-Persons Authorized Outside of Residence (APORs) “under reasonable regulations.”
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and local chief executives of the province’s 42 towns and the component city of Passi agreed to further loosen travel restrictions in a meeting on Wednesday.
“Ginpamangkot naton ang mga mayors kay sila ang sa frontline – are we ready for that? Siling nila, yes. We are ready for more travelers to Iloilo,” according Defensor.
The governor said yesterday he was finalizing an executive order containing the guidelines on the relaxed travel movement in the province.
Should the provincial government start accepting travelers, the governor said he will enforce guidelines similar to his previous Executive Order No. 28 issued in January.
“Mabalik kita sang una sang Jan. 23. Amo to ang una nga executive order nga gin-issue naton kay naga-umpisa sadto ang problema sang COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) sa Metro Manila and kita diri gusto naton mag-protect,” Defensor explained.
According to Defensor, the easing of travel restrictions was in consonance to Resolution No. 79 of the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
“The inter-zonal movement of non-APORs between areas under general community quarantine and modified enhance community quarantine for any purpose shall be permitted subject to the reasonable regulations imposed by the local government unit concerned,” read part of the IATF resolution.
The IATF also updated the list of APORs by including returning or repatriated overseas Filipino workers.
Other APORs include employees of business sectors allowed to resume operations, medical personnel, delivery personnel, and the like.
The IATF also encouraged LGUs to exclude workers, APORs, and necessary establishments from curfew restrictions.
Further, it urged LGUs to standardize curfew rules and relax curfew hours as part of the gradual reopening of the economy.
As of Oct. 21, Iloilo province had a total of 1,716 total confirmed COVID-19 cases – 368 of which were active, 1,296 recovered and 52 died.
Of the figure, 1,215 were local while 501 were either locally stranded individuals, returning overseas Filipinos or APORs./PN
