ILOILO City – The Western Visayas Regional Task Force (RTF) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) issued Resolution No. 33, Series of 2020 approving the 14-day suspension on the repatriation of locally stranded individuals (LSIs), returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Roxas City, Capiz.
The suspension took effect today until Sept. 13.
Mayor Ronnie Dadivas requested the RTF to approve the timeout on the return of LSIs, ROFs and OFWs to Roxas City in a letter dated Aug. 25.
“The said moratorium shall stem the surge of COVID-19 cases in Roxas City brought by the arrival of LSIs, ROFs, OFWs, and allow the local government unit (LGU) to prepare the currently fully-occupied facilities and maximize health care services for the next batches,” read part of the RTF’s resolution dated Aug. 28.
The moratorium shall only apply to residents of Roxas City.
“Disembarkation of LSIs, ROFs and authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) from other component LGUs in Capiz shall be allowed provided that a notice of coordination has been secured from them,” the resolution further read.
Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras recently issued a show cause order to Dadivas for stopping the return of 53 LSIs to Roxas City from Batangas port.
“Invoking Section 465, (b), (2), (i) of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, explain in writing within (72) hours upon receipt of this order why no administrative case will be filed against you for preventing the scheduled voyage of Starlite Ferries on Wednesday, Aug.26, 2020, that was supposed to transport 53 Capiz LSIs from the Port of Batangas. To emphasize, the trip did not solely compose of residents of Roxas City but of different municipalities in the province,” read the show cause order addressed to Dadivas dated Aug. 27.
Contreras emphasized that such voyage was closely coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard and also with concerned LGUs.
“Following the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, the required Notice of Coordination was issued on the day of the voyage, Aug. 26, 2020 based on the Letter of Acceptance by receiving municipalities in Capiz,” Contreras noted./PN
