ILOILO CITY—Despite being downgraded to Alert Level 1, residents who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 have cried foul over the continuing policy of the provincial government that bans them from entering or exiting the island province of Guimaras.

“We just need equal treatment, just the same as the vaccinated people. We are living in one province and all benefits must be enjoyed by all people of Guimaras,” said Eros Elevencione, an unvaccinated town councilor of the Municipality of Jordan.

Elevencione pointed out that the national government’s COVID-19 task force only allows the “no vaccination, no ride” policy for areas under Alert Level 3 or higher.

But in Executive Order No. 2022-015, Governor Samuel Gumarin did not change the travel policy by only allowing those who are vaccinated to travel in and out of Guimaras, an island province that is accessible via a 15-minute boat ride to and from Iloilo City.

Exempted from the Guimaras travel ban are unvaccinated individuals who have to travel for medical reasons, essential reasons, or reasons that the provincial government deems “meritorious.”

The unvaccinated residents who want to leave Guimaras and come back must present a negative swab test for COVID-19.

Architect Frank Nobleza, who is unvaccinated, also slammed the Guimaras provincial government’s double standard policy.

While the unvaccinated are banned from leaving the island province, Nobleza pointed out the various mass gatherings, including political campaign sorties that brought into the province thousands of visitors.

Nobleza is asking whether the thousands of people who gathered in various venues were really checked for their vaccination cards as stipulated in the provincial government’s policies.