Philippines guards Malaysia border to prevent entry of new Covid strain

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine military deployed additional security forces to patrol the porous southern border with Malaysia to thwart the entry of people following the emergence of a new strain of the deadly Covid-19 in Sabah.

Army Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said Sulu Governor Sakur Tan is also set to temporarily close the province to civilians coming from Sabah to pre-empt the possible spread of the new Covid-19 strain.

Vinluan said the lockdown will begin in January 4 up to 17.  “We are maximizing our capabilities to keep the contagion offshore. With the new strain of Covid-19 detected in Sabah, the provincial government of Sulu is set to implement a temporary lockdown of the province from January 4 to 17 to prevent the entry of civilians coming from Sabah and pre-empt the possible spread of the virus,” he said.

He said naval boats will regularly patrol the border between the Philippines and Malaysia, and also the seas in the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan. “The Western Mindanao Command supports the decision of the provincial government of Sulu and we already deployed additional troops to secure the border and to disallow entry of passenger vessels from Sabah,” Vinluan said.

“The navy vessels will conduct patrol in the maritime borders of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the Zamboanga Peninsula to prevent the entry of inflicted individuals to our area of operation,” he added.

Zamboanga wants travel moratorium

In Zamboanga City, Mayor Beng Climaco is also coordinating with the Western Mindanao Command and the Department of Health in putting up measures to prevent the entry of the new Covid-19 strain.

She asked local law makers to call for an emergency meeting to come up with a resolution for the temporary suspension of sea travels from Sabah to Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. 

City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite also appealed to residents to strictly comply with safety and health protocols, and avoid social gatherings due to the threat of the newCovid-19 variant. “With the detection of the new strain which appears to be more transmissible, we appeal to everyone to practice protocols and avoid social gatherings and be socially accountable and responsible for the safety of everyone,” Miravite said. 

Miravite said the local government is putting in place more stringent measures, including the travel of authorized persons outside residences, locally stranded individuals, and returning residents to prevent and contain the infection. She said Climaco has already allocated P200 million for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines which is expected to arrive early next year. 

“The preparations for the storage area for the expected arrival of the anti-Covid vaccines early part of 2021 are underway. We are just awaiting guidelines from the national government with regards to the vaccines, but the local government has allocated P200 million for the procurement of the vaccines,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)

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