AMID the suspension of trips of passenger vessels and fast crafts to and from Manila and Panay, the management of Bredco Port disinfected its facilities on Monday, March 16, especially the Atty. Simplicio Palanca Port Terminal.
Josephine Solis, port manager, said all fast craft and vessel operations have been temporarily suspended since March 15 in compliance with the Executive Order of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia declaring the city under Health Community Quarantine as precautionary against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Solis, however, clarified that only passenger vessel operations were suspended but Roll-on Roll-off and other cargo vessel operations continue.
Some of the personnel who are vital like doctors and government employees and returning passengers in Iloilo and Bacolod are allowed in Roro trips, Solis said.
She said that because of suspension of trips, some of the agency port terminal personnel and security guards were directed to temporarily stop reporting from their respective duties until the operations are back to normal.
The 10 tenants at the port terminal have also been closed since March 15.
Solis said the suspension of vessel operations has somehow affected the port operation.
She also revealed that temperature checking and the use of hand sanitizers for the passengers have been observed at the port terminal since the Covid-19 scare started.
Solis said there were no passengers stranded at the port as the public may have been aware of the situation brought about by Covid-19. The vessel managements have also refunded the tickets bought in advance by some passengers.
Aside from the port operation, only few people went to the malls and some establishments Monday, March 16, which is not normal compared to ordinary days. Some establishments in the city were closed on Monday.
Fewer vehicles were also noticed on major streets in Bacolod City.
This as Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has also ordered the temporary closure of borders, ports, and airports of Negros Occidental effective immediately until April 14.
Lacson issued Executive Order 20-15 on March 15, declaring all the three entry points closed for at least one month to insulate the province from Covid-19.
The order released before midnight on Sunday, March 15, states that the entry of persons shall be restricted except all dully identified residents of the province, its cities and municipalities, health workers responding to emergency, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), persons travelling for urgent medical or humanitarian reasons, and persons transporting essential goods, supplies, and medicines.
It also activated the Inter-agency coronavirus disease 2019 border monitoring and regulation task force.
The governor in his order tasked the task force to defend the borders of the province by setting up checkpoints and prevent entry of persons not allowed under the said order, specifically along the highways located in the borders of Mabinay- Kabankalan, Bayawan-Hinoba-an, San Carlos- Vallehermoso, La Castellana- Canlaon, and other roads that may be used as entry points.