ILOILO – No border restrictions for now. Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. trusts the measures that the Negros Occidental provincial government has put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COV ID-19).
“I was able to talk to (Negros Occidental) Gov. (Eugenio Jose) Lacson. I’m confident that despite their rising cases, they are executing the correct health protocols and containment measures which also benefit Region 6,” said Defensor.
He consulted with the Provincial Defense Cluster with regard to the recent request of Iloilo City’s mayor Jerry Treñas for border restrictions amid the spike in COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental.
However, Defensor said it was agreed during a meeting with the Provincial Defense Cluster on Monday that border curbs will not be implemented “kay pareho lang nga napaidalom sa modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) ang Iloilo and Negros Occidental, also the other provinces and highly urbanized cities in the region.”
Defensor also noted that COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental “are not that high” relative to its total population and land area.
To recall, a worried Treñas suggested the enforcement of a one-week restriction on the entry of travelers from Negros Occidental including Bacolod City.
“Nakalab-ot sila mga 200 to 300 (cases a day) and daw may worry lang kami ni Gov. (Defensor) basi magsaylo-saylo naman and one week man lang actually daw pareho lang sa Manila (moratorium),” Treñas stressed.
To note, Ilonggos can travel to Negros Occidental and Bacolod City via the Dumangas port and the ferry terminal in Lapuz, Iloilo City, respectively.
Data from the Department of Health showed, as of yesterday, Negros Occidental had 8,759 total confirmed COVID-19 cases – 1,591 active, 6,970 recovered and 195 dead.
Also, it can be noticed that since April 10, the province has been logging at least 100 new cases per day./PN
