By Minerva BC Newman
CEBU CITY – The strict and timely implementation of border controls in the provinces of Antique and Capiz in Western Visayas, Samar and Ormoc City in Eastern Visayas had contributed to the low number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission and contamination in these areas.
Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez
(Ormoc CIty Government official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was the assessment made by Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, who said that he ordered his city’s closed as early as March 13, suspended sea travel between Cebu and the city on March 17, and created a taskforce to address the COVID-19 pandemic while establishing quarantine control areas.
“Ormoc City remains COVID free since the start of the pandemic,” Gomez said.
In Samar, Rep. Sharee Ann Tan of the second district of Samar said that the province acquired medical equipment, such as personal protective equipment for front liners, and implemented 21-day quarantine for those coming from other provinces.
"We felt it would be safe for us if it's 21 days. So far, we are coordinating with the numbers of those who will return under the Balik Probinsya program,” she said.
The province also limits access to the local government units as far as donated goods are concerned, Tan said. It is the provincial staff that handles the distribution of donation and they will have to undergo quarantine when they return to Catbalogan.