ILOILO City – Non-essential travelers are off-limits to this southern city, province of Iloilo and Bacolod City. Border restrictions are up to limit public mobility and curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
With Iloilo City’s being under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until the end of the month, Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered a “city-wide” border closure effective immediately until 11:59 p.m. of July 31.
Under Executive Order No. 62, travel of persons within Panay Island to lloilo City by way of land, sea and air travel shall be temporarily prohibited.
Only exempted are those whose purpose is for work; medical needs; accessing government services; transport of goods and/or construction materials; humanitarian purposes; receiving first/second dose of COVID-19 vaccine; returning overseas Filipino workers, returning Iloilo City residents and Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs); and residents of Iloilo and Guimaras provinces.
Specifically, persons allowed to travel to lloilo City during ECQ are the following:
* health and emergency frontline services personnel, all Department of Health (DOH) officials and staff, all health and service personnel stationed at local government unit (LGU) health facilities, all Philippine Red Cross personnel and staff with Red Cross IDs, core staff from the World Health Organization (WHO) Country and Regional Offices, doctors and their drivers, hospital staff and employees including janitorial services, medical professionals and other employees and private caregivers
* government officials and government personnel
* justices, ombudsman, deputy ombudsman, judges of the regional, metropolitan, municipal and city courts, court employees, prosecutors and lawyers
* persons crossing zones (LGUs) for work or business permitted in the zone (LGUs) of destinations or activities as may be authorized by the national Inter-Agency Task Force, and going back home
* public utility vehicle operators (driver and crew)
* APORs from the national government agencies and other government offices/corporations
* media
* delivery personnel (including the driver of cargoes)
* force multipliers (barangay officials and tanods), Barangay Health Emergency Response Team members
* leaders of religious denominations pursuant to the performance of their religious function.
These groups are required proof when traveling to and from this city such as:
* valid company/office ID
* proof of affiliation
* valid professional identification card
* insofar as practicable or wherever applicable, certificate of employment/travel pass/certification issued by their employers/HR managers indicating specific dates and/or hours of work such employee is obliged to report on duty
Also, allowed entry are non-government APORs (APORs working in the private sector who are allowed to work on-site or persons working in lloilo City (applicable only for employees and persons affiliated with the permitted establishments under Executive Order No. 61 series of 2021) or in lloilo province; and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and export-oriented businesses personnel.
These people are required to present valid company/office ID; and certificate of employment/travel pass/certification issued by their employers/HR managers indicating specific dates and/or hours of work such employee is obliged to report on duty.
Persons engaged in business operating in lloilo city or province as well as other APORs working or doing business (including those who are self-employed) in other livelihood sectors like agriculture and fisheries sectors are allowed entry provided that they present valid ID and travel pass to be issued by barangay where the individual resides, indicating the purpose of travel, destination and dates covered for the same.
Also, only APOR are allowed ingress and egress to and from lloilo City while traveling non-APOR may only be allowed entry to lloilo City upon the former’s compliance with the S-Pass System and presentation of a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result which have been issued not more than 72 hours prior to date of travel. A valid ID is also required.
On the other hand, returning Filipinos from abroad must immediately subject themselves to quarantine either at accredited quarantine hotels or in the city’s designated quarantine facilities.
On the fourth day of quarantine, they shall undergo RT-PCR testing and only upon a presentment of a negative RT-PCR result will they be given clearance from quarantine. In the event the RT-PCR result indicated a positive infection, the subject must strictly comply with instructions given by the local health authorities.
Person going to and from the airport with confirmed airline tickets must present valid ID and present a confirmed airline ticket.
For persons scheduled to receive their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine must also present valid ID and vaccine ticket indicating date of vaccination or vaccine card.
Also allowed to entry is immediate (first-degree) family of the crossing borders to attend burial service. They must also valid ID and proof of filiation to the deceased.
For returning lloilo City residents and residents of Guimaras and lloilo, they have to present valid ID with address or Certificate of Residency issued by the barangay where the individual resides.
ILOILO PROVINCE
Meanwhile, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. also agreed to close the province’s borders to leisure travelers in Western Visayas or outside the region.
Only APORs can enter the province and those working in essential businesses from Capiz, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras and Negros Island.
“Padayun man sa gihapon ang aton kasimanwa nga OFWs, ang aton returning residents,” Defensor clarified.
He also reiterated that there will be no travel restriction between the city and province of Iloilo as both are under ECQ.
Defensor will also order the implementation of border checkpoints at the boundaries of Antique and Capiz.
Also, the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town has since been prohibiting the entry of non-essential travelers, Defensor said.
Meanwhile, those residents of Iloilo province, who are working or temporarily residing in Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras, are allowed to go home. Defensor is yet to issue guidelines relative to this.
“Subong gina-finalize ta ang requirements sang nagapauli naman halin sa Antique ukon Capiz,” Defensor said.
The governor is also looking at requiring travelers a notice of coordination or the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) system.
Defensor has yet to announce when he would impose the restriction.
He also noted that the province of Capiz will also prohibit the entry of non-essential travelers.
Defensor will also convene personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police to finalize the border controls.
Municipal border control checkpoints will not be required.
BACOLOD CITY
Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said travel of non-APORs from Iloilo city and province areas are not allowed, while those from Capiz, Guimaras, Aklan and Antique may be allowed into Bacolod City subject to presentation of the following documents:
* negative RT-PCR test result which must have been obtained within 72 hours prior to and upon arrival in Bacolod City
* online Bacolod City COVID-19 Contact Tracing (BaCTrac) registration
* online Health Declaration
* S-Pass
* Travel Coordination Permit
* valid ID
Leisure travel is prohibited.
The movement of all types of good and cargoes, including their personnel (maximum of five persons) and delivery vehicles, when transporting goods and cargoes between Panay Island and Bacolod City, shall be unhampered./PN
