By Minerva Newman
CEBU CITY — The four provinces in Central Visayas has put in place safety measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Cebu Province, through executive order #5-E, imposed stricter border controls, prohibiting the entry of domestic passengers to Cebu via airports and seaports in the next 30 days.
Effective March 17 all domestic flights from Clark International Airport, Legaspi City, Cagayan de Oro and Dumaguete City will no longer be allowed at the Mactan Cebu International Airport and, by March 18, all seaports will also be closed to passenger travels.
“As we close our seaports to ingress of passengers, we are not prohibiting Cebuanos to go out of Cebu, but if they go out, they will not be able to come back in 30 days,” Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia said in a media statement Friday.
Movement of cargoes shall continue, while passengers of international flights that will be subject to the mandatory quarantine will now include Spain, in addition to those who would have transit flight from Iran and Italy as stated in the governor’s previous executive order.
Suspension of classes in all levels and curfew set at 9 p.m. for movie houses, cockpits, gyms, museums, cultural and sports centers including restaurants, cafés and bars were also imposed.
According to Garcia, these were mitigating measures meant to prevent the entry, and keep out the coronavirus from Cebu.
Bohol measures against Covid-19
The Bohol provincial government has also imposed a travel ban into the province effective March 16, and called on Boholanos returning from Manila to go on home-quarantine for two weeks.
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap called on everyone anew not to panic unnecessarily as Bohol remains safe from the Covid-19 pandemic. “The worst thing that can happen at this point in time is we panic, and we end up being disorganized,” he added.
Yap also requested the public to refrain from going out and traveling outside of the province; to wear mask always if they are sick; to observe social distancing; if suffering from flu-like symptoms, Yap said to report to the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of your town for proper monitoring.
The governor further ordered the suspension of classes, exams and activities in all levels both public and private schools from March 16 to April 12 and all public events, including graduations are equally discouraged.
Bohol first district representative Edgar Chatto called for unity, support amid growing COVID-19 crisis and said that the province has zero positive case of Covid-19 as of press time but Yap is to place the island-province under community quarantine effective the first hour of March 16, until March 20 Friday midnight to help us prepare.
Negros Oriental prohibits people convergence
Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo issued executive order-16 that prohibits convergence of people in public places, events and gatherings within the province effective March 11 until revoked.
Degamo said that the EO aims to minimize the risk of more people contracting COVID-19 and to stem the tide of transmission. He advised the public to avoid crowded places and to continue to practice self-protection measures as the local government units of the province are one and united to rally behind the call of social distancing and all possible mitigating measures to protect the Negrenses.
Schools in Dumaguete including Silliman University also cancelled social events, classes, graduation events and other activities from pre-school to post-graduate levels effective March 12.
The Diocese of Dumaguete on the other had through Msgr. Julius Heruela, after consultations with various parish leaders decided to cancel all public masses, liturgies and related ceremonies effective March 14, including Sundays and the 400th anniversary of the Cathedral Parish on March 17 until further notice, says its public advisory.
Siquijor prohibits public convergence, travel
Siquijor Provincial governor Zaldy Villa issued a memorandum to all its local officials and employees of the local government units of the province, suspending all official travel to any place outside of Siquijor effective March 13.
All seminars, trainings and symposia are likewise suspended to ensure safety of personnel and to protect everyone against the coronavirus.
Siquijor town and all the other towns in the province had also prohibited and cancelled the convergence of people in public places, events and gatherings within their respective towns and the entire Island.