No more border checkpoints, quarantine passes on May 16

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Checkpoints, border restrictions, and quarantine passes will no longer be implemented in Iloilo City when it shifts from the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ) on May 16, 2020.

Mayor Jerry Treñas announced on Thursday that border restrictions in Panay Island will be lifted while ports will be open to neighboring provinces in Western Visayas.

“Ang border restrictions including checkpoints by May 16 wala na. For residents nga halin Panay, wala na kita border restrictions,” he announced in a press conference on Thursday morning.

According to Treñas, stranded Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and city residents from areas under ECQ will be allowed to return provided they undergo mandatory quarantine and protocols set by the city government.

“For OFW and residents of the city, we will allow pero dapat ma-undergo sila 14-days quarantine. Kon indi sila makapatigayon sang real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, we will subject them to a confirmatory testing,” he said.

For air travel, the mayor said he leaves the decision in lifting the travel restrictions to Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. as the airport is in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Quarantine passes will also be suspended by May 16, he added.

In preparation for the gradual reopening by May 16, Treñas said he is set to meet with representatives from different sectors to discuss health protocols.

All business establishments except for bars and massage services will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity, according to the mayor.

“Our plan is to reopen our business establishments and restaurants on the first two weeks by 50 percent. For salons and barbershops pasugtan sila magbukas pero dapat may mask, gloves, and face shields. Ang restaurants for take-out lang anay and delivery,” he said.

Treñas said churches will be allowed to hold masses starting May 17, provided that physical distancing and use of face masks will be practiced.

“Religious masses will now be allowed but only at 50 percent capacity.  Siguraduhon ang face masks, physical distancing, and dapat may alcohol sa aton mga simbahan,” he said.

The National Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 clarified Thursday afternoon that all areas in the country, except for Cebu City, National Capital Region (NCR), and Laguna, will be placed under GCQ.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said all low-risk areas in the country, including Western Visayas, will be placed under GCQ by May 16 instead of the Modified GCQ (MGCQ).

The national government initially announced Tuesday that the community quarantine in low-risk areas, including Western Visayas, will be lifted after May 15. But on Wednesday, low-risk areas were lumped under MGCQ.

By Thursday, it was back to GCQ.

Meanwhile, Treñas said he is ready to comply with the directives of the national government. He is also set to issue the implementing GCQ guidelines before May 16.