Capitol releases list of exemptions from travel ban on Cebu City

WHEN the whole province of Cebu is placed under a state of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020, it will close its border with Cebu City, where more cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have been reported.

According to Executive Order 5-O that Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia signed Saturday, March 28, “no person shall be allowed entry into the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu.”

These borders include the town of Balamban and the city of Danao in the north; Toledo City in the west; the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue and the towns of Liloan, Consolacion and Compostela in the east; Talisay City in the south; and Cordova in Mactan Island.

The following, though, are exempted from the restriction:

• Provincial governor, vice governor and board members;
• Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and Sandiganbayan;
• Ombudsman and deputy ombudsman;
• Congressmen from the Province of Cebu, Cebu City and the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City;
• Judge and skeletal work force of the regional, metropolitan, city and municipal trial courts;
• Regional and provincial directors of different national government agencies;
• Local government officials;
• Members of the diplomatic corps such as consuls and ambassadors;
• Employees of the Provincial Government;
• Employees of the municipalities and component cities of Cebu Province as authorized by the local chief executive (LCE);
• Prosecutors and the skeletal work force of their offices;
• The skeletal work force of other government agencies;
• Officials and staff of the Department of Health;
• Private and government doctors, nurses and other medical personnel;
• Hospital workers, administrative staff and janitors;
• Members of the Philippine Red Cross, but only for official functions;
• Media personnel accredited by the Provincial Government;
• Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other security personnel;
• Field personnel of the Visayan Electric;
• Field personnel of the Metro Cebu Water District;
• Field personnel of PLDT, Globe, Smart, Sun and other telecommunication companies;
• All energy (electricity, fuel and petroleum)-related work force, including those who perform technical services;
• Officials and employees of banks and money transfer establishments;
• Delivery personnel of vehicles carrying cargo and other essential goods with or without load (maximum of two including driver) subject to the observance of strict protocols;
• Persons with a preexisting medical condition that necessitates treatment in a medical facility. A certificate from LCEs of the local government unit having jurisdiction over his or her residence must be secured as well as a medical certificate;
• Persons involved in accidents and medical emergencies. One member of the family or household and a driver may accompany said persons;