ILOILO CITY—Governor Esteban Evan Contreras II of Capiz province has lifted the mandatory clearances for travelers from the Western Visayas region.
Despite being infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Contreras issued an executive order that no longer requires medical clearances for residents of Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces, as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
“Medical clearances are no longer required for entry,” Contreras said.
To recall, it was Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City, who earlier complained of the strict requirements for inbound travelers to Capiz, and that Iloilo City residents would be considered locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and needed to subject themselves to 14-day quarantine.
Treñas brought up the concern before the Western Visayas Regional Task Force on COVID-19, and it, in turn, requested Capiz province to ease its requirements.
Contreras earlier explained the decision was a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19, especially when the national government reverted the status of Iloilo City into general community quarantine (GCQ) when locally transmitted cases suddenly surged.