ILOILO City – The regional taskforces on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is making this clear: There is no lockdown in Western Visayas.
The joint Regional Task Force (RTF) and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) on COVID-19 issued a statement clarifying to all local government units, stakeholders and the public that they did not declare a lockdown.
“Our advisory released earlier merely adopted the provisions of the National IATF Resolution No. 104, dated March 20, 2021,” read part of the regional task forces’ statement.
Resolution No. 104 underscored that only “essential travelers” from the National Capital Region (NCR) and its “travel bubble circuit” that includes Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal Area, are allowed to travel into and outside of Western Visayas from March 23 to April 4, 2021.
These essential travelers include health and emergency frontline services personnel, government officials and government frontline personnel, duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors, and persons travelling for medical or humanitarian reasons, among others.
The restrictions were imposed due to the spike in COVID-19 cases the aforementioned areas.
Around noon yesterday, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas released this statement: “The whole Region 6 was placed on lockdown by the regional IATF. I do not know if any of the LCEs (local chief executives) have been consulted about this. Another kapalpakan. I demand that the regional IATF consult the LCEs. In behalf of Iloilo City, I am demanding an explanation from the regional IATF.”
In a subsequent statement, the city mayor stated that the city government does not recognize the RIATF’s decision placing the region on lockdown as “they have no authority” to do so.
“Only the duly elected government can do it. This is tantamount to an economic sabotage and is totally illegal,” Treñas added.
He advised the public to wait for official announcements. He then clarified that there was no lockdown in Iloilo City.
“In so far as the circular is concerned, I am not going to comply with this circular. I am advising everyone not to panic because Region 6 and Iloilo City for that matter is not under lockdown,” he stressed.
The regional taskforces advisory also stated that all other travelers not coming from the subject areas (NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal Area) are allowed to enter Region 6, subject to health protocols and travel requirements imposed by the LGU of destination.
Moreover, all flights and sea vessel trips in the region are currently in normal operations to cater the essential travelers and returning residents from areas which are not covered in the IATF Resolution 104.
“The public is hereby advised to refrain from spreading unverified information. Further, we appeal to everyone to continuously adhere to health and safety protocols set by the authorities,” read the official statement penned by Department of Interior and Local Government 6 director Juan Jovian Ingeniero, chairman of RIATF-6, and Office of Civil Defense 6 director Jose Roberto Nuñez, chairman of the RTF-6.
Just recently, LCEs in the region decided to impose a uniform travel protocol for inbound travelers. There’s a requirement of a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result 72 hours prior to travel.
Over the weekend, Treñas also said they requested for a moratorium of flights and trips to Region 6 up to April 10 but was denied by the NIATF.
For his part, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said as far the restriction on outbound travelers, they were not consulted. He clarified that outbound travelers from Region 6 is allowed.
Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao also echoed that as LCEs, they must be consulted first.
Both the governors agreed that decisions must be coordinated with the regional task forces./PN
