BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s land borders shared with Negros Oriental remain closed, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson reiterated yesterday.
He issued this clarification anew following reports that Negros Oriental is reopening its borders with Negros Occidental through the main entry and exit points in the towns of Mabinay and Vallehermoso.
“We will keep it as it is right now,” Lacson stressed.
There are four other border checkpoints in Negros Occidental’s central and southern parts located in Isabela, La Castellana, Kabankalan City, and Hinoba-an.
In early January, mayors of cities and towns in Negros Occidental agreed to keep the border controls due to concerns that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections on the other side of the island were higher.
Lacson also cited the recent directive of Negros Oriental’s Gov. Roel Degamo retaining their strict border control measures.
Since recording started in March last year, Negros Oriental had 476 active cases while Negros Occidental had 170.
Meanwhile, Bimbo Miraflor, spokesperson of the provincial government of Negros Oriental, said Governor Degamo’s executive order that instituted strict border controls is still being enforced.
He explained that the decision of the towns of Mabinay and Vallehermoso to open their borders with the Occidental side was a “unilateral discretion” on their part.
Vallehermoso is the last town of Negros Oriental in the north and shares boundaries with Guihulngan City.
Mabinay is situated in central Negros, bounded by Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental in the west and is a shorter route to Bacolod City, and Bais City in the east./PN
