Travel ban between Panay, Negros ‘unlikely’

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) chief executive officer Frank Carbon said he believes that the 7-day travel moratorium for Iloilo and Negros sought by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas may not get the approval of the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF).

Carbon said the reason why the NIATF is not likely to approve Treñas’ request is because the government can no longer afford to take care of the Filipino people who are suffering from poverty because of the pandemic.

Since Treñas’ request was only approved on the regional-level, sea trips between Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and Dumangas are continuing normally, he added.

The suspension of trips between the two islands will only take effect if the NIATF approves the travel moratorium.

Earlier, Treñas sought for the moratorium due to the upsurge in COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City.

The city mayor’s request was later endorsed by the Regional IATF and the resolution was forwarded to the NIATF for approval.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson supported Treñas’ proposal pointing out the resolution would mean “non-essential travel will not be allowed.”

As of May 16, 2021, the Department of Health Region 6 logged 49 new cases for Iloilo City and 46 for Bacolod City.