Curfew turns Roxas into ‘ghost town’

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz– This city became a virtual “ghost town” after the Capiz police implemented curfew hours beginning Wednesday evening.

The curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. is based on the implementing guidelines of Memorandum Order No. 11, series of 2020.

Capiz Governor Esteban Evan ‘Nonoy’ Contreras said the curfew aims to prevent the entry and spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the province.

Observers here said that few hours before the curfew, only a few cars and motorcycles were seen on the roads.

Some commercial establishments closed down earlier.

“Halos wala naman sang makita nga mga indibidwal nga nagalagaw ukon nagalakat sa mga karsada magluwas na lamang sa mga otoridad nga nagabantay sa palibot sang siyudad,” one resident said.

Most passenger vehicles going to other municipalities and provinces and vice versa ceased operations.

Passenger vans plying Iloilo and Aklan and vice versa can only unload passengers at the boundaries of the two provinces.

The income of drivers also plunged because of the “one seat apart” policy of the travel restrictions.

Vallacar Transit Inc buses plying Iloilo and Aklan stopped their operations because of the restrictions.