SOME 213 residents of Negros Occidental returned home from the neighboring island of Cebu under strict health protocols on Thursday afternoon.
The Negrenses were allowed to travel onboard four vessels after Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. coordinated with Tabuelan town Mayor Raul Gerona, who issued an executive order banning ferries bound for Negros and Iloilo to leave Cebu by way of the Tabuelan Port starting Wednesday.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson directed Yap to coordinate with Gerona.
He added that Provincial Health Office personnel had been deployed to set up stations at the Escalante City Coliseum to collect swab samples from arriving locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
After arriving at the Danao Port, they were brought to the coliseum to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) before they were allowed to go home.
“They were not allowed to leave unless their respective local government units (LGUs) picked them up,” Diaz said.
Those who traveled from Cebu are supposed to undergo a mandatory quarantine supervised by the LGU upon arrival in their hometown or city.
On Friday, Provincial Tourism Division chief Jennylind Cordero said the LSIs or returning residents from Cebu should submit proof of residence and an acceptance letter from Negros Occidental to be allowed to travel back to the province.
Before going to the port, they should have their names listed with their respective LGUs or with Provincial Tourism Division, Cordero added.
“We will prepare an acceptance letter when you have properly messaged us the information required. When quarantine areas are available, we will inform you when to proceed to the port,” she said.
Negros Occidental’s provincial government has imposed stricter rules for LSIs from the island of Cebu, particularly Cebu City, which has the highest Covid-19 cases in the country.
In Executive Order 20-26, Lacson said Negrenses coming from Cebu would be allowed to enter the province only through the Danao Port while the admission of LSIs depends on the capacity of the isolation facility in Cadiz City. (By Nanette Guadalquiver)
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