ILOILO – If your travel pass is valid until today (June 18) only, you must secure a new one.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. announced he would extend the implementation of border control points within this province until the end of the month.
Earlier, Defensor said the restriction would be from June 4 until June 18 but since the province has been classified under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of the month, he likewise decided maximizing the curbs.
Residents of this province must secure new or updated travel passes from their employers, company or concerned local government units (LGUs), Defensor said.
“Duha lang ka bagay, it’s either nga ma-issue ikaw sang panibag-o ukon puede man ina nga i-extend ang iya validity, depende ina sa naga-isyu. You can use it if it can be extended. Bal-an mo ang validity internal procedure sang issuing company or office so it’s up to them. Pero sa gihapon kinahanglan ang travel pass,” Defensor told the press.
The governor also clarified that there’s no need for travel passes for residents of Iloilo City, Antique, Guimaras, Aklan, Capiz, Bacolod City, and Negros Occidental whose purpose is to work or transact business here. They can present their company identification card or documents proving their purpose of transaction.
Defensor added that, still, only essential travels are allowed mobility. These are for health and emergency frontline services personnel; government officials and government frontline personnel; duly authorized humanitarian assistance actors (HAAs); persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons, especially those transporting medical supplies and laboratory specimens related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); and other relief humanitarian assistance; persons going to and from the airport; persons crossing zones (local government units) for work or business permitted in the zone (LGUs) of destinations, or activities as may be authorized by the IATF, and going back home, and public utility vehicle operators (driver and crew).
Drivers of public utility vehicles and their crew as well as emergency cases are still exempted from securing travel passes.
Defensor said he would soon issue an official order for the extension.
LIQUOR BAN
In a related development, Defensor has formally extended the liquor ban on the whole province until June 30.
He issued Executive Order No. 174-B with the subject: “An order fixing the effectivity of the liquor ban under Executive Order No. 174, Series of 2021, as a COVID-19 surge management measure in the Province of Iloilo until 30 June 2021.”
The EO prohibits the consumption – public or private – sale, dispensing, or transporting of alcoholic beverages like whisky, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer, and other intoxicating drinks.
On May 27, Defensor issued EO 174 implementing the liquor ban as a measure against the surge of COVID-19 infections here.
The governor said the liquor ban would significantly reduce COVID-19 cases as drinking was one of the many reasons for social gatherings.
Police will also monitor residences to ensure that no one is drinking even inside their homes.
“Local taskforces are enjoined to conduct patrolling, inspection and exercise visitorial power to enforce the ban,” Defensor said.
10K COVID CASES
Since the start of the pandemic, this province had 10,093 total confirmed coronavirus cases, of which 243 succumbed to the disease, data (as of June 16) from the Provincial Health Office showed. Some 2,455 cases were active and 7,395 recovered.
Areas with the highest total confirmed cases were: Passi City – 921, Oton – 873, Pavia – 689, Santa Barbara – 492, Miag-ao – 426, Guimbal – 383, San Joaquin – 318, Sara – 305, Cabatuan – 284, and Calinog – 284
As to the deaths, Pavia town recorded 23, followed by Oton (18), Barotac Nuevo (17), Santa Barbara (16), Banate (13), Leganes (11), Passi City (10), Cabatuan (eight), Pototan (nine), San Miguel (eight), Guimbal (seven), San Joaquin (seven), Alimodian (seven), Tigbauan (seven), Estancia (six), San Enrique (six), Lambunao (five), Dingle (five), Dumangas (five), and Miag-ao (five)./PN
