By Freddie Lazaro LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte - - Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc has placed the entire province under a total lockdown effective Sunday, March 29, to sustain the province’s status as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) free. In his Executive Order 65-20 series of 2020 he signed on March 29, Manotoc said that the several measures preventing the possible entry of COVID 19 to the province will be institutionalized and will be strictly observed. Through his order, Manotoc said no one would be allowed the province except individuals in their official duties; limited to delivery and merchandise, licensed health workers, peace and order personnel and those he officially approved. The authorized persons allowed to enter to the province are those who have official duties from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the lockdown period. Those residents, who went out of the province before the declaration of the provincial lockdown, were told not to return until the lockdown is lifted. “Unnecessary journeys are now restricted, critical supply days are increased and roaming is forbidden at any time of the day,” he said. He asked all mayors to designate certain market places, grocery stores for each barangays where the village residents can buy their needs. “We ask for the compliance and understanding of our province mates. Together we will get through this, and we will be an even stronger Ilocos Norte,” he added. He said the delivery of cargo will turn-over their goods at the boarder for pick-up by the recipients. All vehicles passing through Ilocos Norte shall be strictly escorted to ensure that no passenger disembark within the province. All authorized person who enter the province will present an official and valid IDs, travel orders and will undergo thermal scanning. Returning residents of neighboring province are not allowed to pass through Ilocos Norte. Earlier, Manotoc, chairperson of the provincial Task Force Salun-at, met with chief executives of the province’s component cities and municipalities, officers of the Philippines National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and representatives of the Ilocos Norte Medical Society to discuss all other possible means to counter the spread of the virus. He said the duties and responsibilities of the said task force include raising community awareness, promoting preventive and curative measures, perform rapid action and resource mobilization, clinical management and public health response, and planning and periodic reporting. Manotoc led the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectants, and medical supplies to all government-managed hospitals in Ilocos Norte. Likewise, through the Provincial Health Office, PPE were also given to Barangay Health Emergency response team members. As of 5:00 PM on March 29, 2020, report from the Department of Health-Region 1 (DOH R1) showed that Ilocos Norte had zero case of COVID 19, but has listed 12 patients under investigations (PUIs), of which five were already discharged from the hospital , two are still in the hospital and five under home quarantine.