ALL crew and passengers of a foreign cargo vessel were prevented from disembarking in the town of Carrascal in the province of Surigao del Sur on March 20 due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.
The municipalities of Carrascal and Cantilan, through a joint executive order (EO), said they will not allow the crewmen to leave the vessel, M/V Lucy Ocean 2002, even if the ship has a clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine.
The vessel underwent a 15-day quarantine.
Town officials said the EO they issued is pursuant to the precautionary measures imposed by the Department of Health and Department of Transportation to prevent the entry and spread of the new coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
The vessel docked on March 20 at the municipal waters of Carrascal, but it has been cordoned and guarded to ensure that no crew member can leave the ship, the Cantilan Municipal Government said.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Station-Surigao del Sur, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 809th Squadron and Philippine National Police Maritime Group 13 conducted medical screening and inspection of the vessel on Sunday, March 22.
The inspection team advised all crew to stay on board, wear personal protective equipment, and practice social distancing. (Kim Adams Jamilo/Contributor)