CEBU is set to tighten border control measures by requiring inbound travelers to present a negative swab or rapid antigen test result. Otherwise, they will not be allowed entry into the Province.

This will be initially enforced in Samboan town in the south, gateway to Negros Island, but will eventually be implemented in all towns and independent component cities with ports, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia told reporters after her meeting with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) officials Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021.

Swabbing booths will be set up in Samboan, which will conduct either a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test or a rapid antigen test on both arriving and departing passengers.

An RT-PCR test detects Sars-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), while a rapid antigen test (RAT) detects antibodies that indicate whether an individual is fighting off or has fought off infection. The RT-PCR result comes out after 72 hours while the RAT result is known after 48 hours.

Garcia said the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists has agreed to help while the PCG committed to implement a no-boarding policy for travelers without a negative test result in ports covered by its detachments.

The PNP, on the other hand, pledged to help inspect passengers entering ports in the nine towns and three cities that are under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) with heightened restrictions.

The governor also said she might place more areas under MECQ.

“Let us first establish the trend because we cannot keep on changing (quarantine classifications) every day, so let’s observe. Let’s say for the next three days, if the trend continues, there may be other LGUs that will be put under MECQ with heightened restrictions,” she said.

Those placed under MECQ with heightened restrictions due to rising Covid-19 cases are the towns of Consolacion, Liloan, Cordova, Minglanilla, Sibonga, Samboan, Argao and Oslob as well as the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar.

Mayor Lakambini Reluya of San Fernando volunteered to place her town under MECQ since it is situated between Naga and Carcar.

The rest of the towns and cities in the Province are under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions.

Consolacion

Talisay