CEBUANOS who are stranded in the province of Negros Oriental may now return to their homes via sea travel through the Negros-Samboan route.
In a Facebook post Monday evening, May 25, 2020, the Municipal Government of Samboan said stranded Cebuanos who wish to return to Cebu must secure the following:
Travel authority issued by the provincial police office of Negros Oriental (NegOr);
A negative Covid-19 certificate issued by the Provincial Health Office of NegOr (a rapid test will do if no swab test is available; if both are not available, a medical certificate issued by the PHO of NegOr certifying that the person had no contact with a Covid-19 patient, not suspected or probable, will suffice);
There must be an acceptance and/or coordination certificate issued by the local government unit (LGU) of destination. The LGU of destination must provide a vehicle for passengers arriving in Samboan Port upon disembarkation.
A “no LGU vehicle, no vessel boarding” rule will be implemented at the Matiao Tampi Port in Negros Oriental.
The acceptance certificate shall state the true residency of the passenger along with an agreement for inter-LGU coordination with Samboan.
Private vehicles are not allowed to receive stranded passengers from NegOr unless the certification states and specifies the authorized driver and plate number of the vehicle.
There will be only one trip available daily.
The vessel will depart from Tampi port at 12:30 p.m. and will dock at the Samboan Matiao Port.
Each passenger must pay for his own fare and must follow strict general community quarantine protocol.
Constituents of Samboan, Cebu must also agree to a 14-day quarantine, while those who hail from other LGUs are ordered to heed the health requirements and guidelines of their hometown.
A portion of the post states: “This is for locally stranded individuals. This is for those permanent residents of an LGU who want to return home, by reason or another were stranded in Negros Oriental.” (RTF)