Isabela officials enter Zambo with no RT-PCR tests

AT LEAST a dozen barangay officials from Basilan’s Isabela City who arrived here without health and travel requirements were intercepted by local authorities at the Port of Zamboanga, officials said.

Zamboanga City Tourism Officer Sarita Sebastian said the officials face sanctions based on the guidelines set by local Covid-19 task force after they failed to present negative RT-PCR test results and S-PASS, among other documents. 

S-PASS is short for Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage Digital Travel Management System developed by the Department of Science and Technology which is being used across the country upon order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government during this pandemic period. It was institutionalized this year as a one-stop-shop application or communication for travellers. 

The local government also started random rapid antigen test among travellers, including those under essential services, at all entry points here to help curb the spread of Covid-19, especially the Delta variant.  

Sebastian said the travellers, who arrived here on board a private boat, were also quarantined in a hotel while awaiting their Covid-19 test results. Sebastian did not identify the barangay officials and the Isabela City government has not issued any statement, but Mayor Djalia Turabin previously said that the strict health protocols and quarantine guidelines imposed by Climaco are for the safety of everybody. She even thanked Climaco for her strict implementation of the public health protocols. 

“Thank you to our sister city Zamboanga, for your strict implementation of protocols, resulting in the prevention of possible transmission from the Delta index case. It is these protocols, unpopular they may be, that are proven effective,” Turabin said. 

“With Covid-19, the impact of protocols are realized and felt weeks after. Like in this case, when we are all able to sigh with relief and gratitude that despite this Delta news (sic), we are assured it has been taken care of by Zamboanga City. Yung pag iistrikto nila, buong rehiyon ang nakinabang. Kaya maraming salamat. Muchas Gracias especialmente na maga frontliners de ciudad de Zamboanga!” she added.

Isabela is a sister city of Zamboanga.  

Climaco has issued an executive order making it mandatory for all travellers - whether they are fully vaccinated or not - entering Zamboanga to present their negative RT-PCR test result, especially now that there have been hundreds of cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant. She ordered a strict border control and implementation of the health protocols in Zamboanga, saying travellers must have negative Covid-19 test results, whether by Saliva RT-PCR tests or nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test, before they enter Zamboanga. 

She previously issued Executive Order 651-2021 that mandates all inbound passengers, whether APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) or private individuals, regardless of reason or purpose of entry, including transit travellers to present negative RT-PCR test result within 5 days from date of specimen collection and their valid identification cards before they can enter Zamboanga City. The mayor said these are temporary measures designed to curb the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in order to promote the health and safety of the general welfare of the citizens. 

Zamboanga, which has a long coastline, is dotted by over two dozen islands and islets which make it extremely difficult for security forces to guard. The city is near the provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. (Zamboanga Post)