Travel halt between Negros, Iloilo City effective May 25

BACOLOD. Starting Tuesday, May 25, sea vessel trips between the Cities of Bacolod and Iloilo are temporarily suspended until May 31, 2021, following the escalation of the latter's community quarantine status to modified enhanced community quarantine. (Photo by Erwin P. Nicavera)
BACOLOD. Starting Tuesday, May 25, sea vessel trips between the Cities of Bacolod and Iloilo are temporarily suspended until May 31, 2021, following the escalation of the latter's community quarantine status to modified enhanced community quarantine. (Photo by Erwin P. Nicavera)

FOLLOWING the escalation of quarantine status of Iloilo City to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), its mayor issued Executive Order (EO) No. 41 Series of 2021 imposing a travel moratorium between Negros Island and Iloilo City beginning Tuesday, May 25.

Mayor Jerry Treñas, in the EO issued Sunday, May 23, said both inbound and outbound travel of persons from Negros to Iloilo City and vice versa will be temporarily suspended effective 12 a.m. of May 25 until 11:59 p.m. of May 31, 2021.

The unimpeded movement of cargo in and out of Iloilo City and Negros Island will also be guaranteed, he added.

The EO came after the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) through Resolution No. 116-C stating that "Iloilo City shall be escalated to modified enhanced community quarantine beginning May 23, 2021 until May 31, 2021... without prejudice to [its] further reclassification as may be warranted and the declaration of localized enhanced community quarantine in critical areas."

The NIATF's move was in response to the City Government's appeal to escalate its community quarantine status from modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) due to the rising cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

As of May 23, Iloilo City logged 7,128 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 981 still active.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Iloilo Station, in an advisory issued Sunday night, said in reference to the EO issued by Treñas, sea vessel trips including fastcraft and roll-on, roll-off (roro) vessels will be temporarily suspended effective May 25.

For Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express, the one-week travel moratorium would mean millions worth of revenue and opportunity losses among shipping firms.

Carbon, also the chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it will hurt more the livelihood of the workers in the local shipping industry.

"Indirectly, it will also impact the livelihood of the people who are making a living at the port like vendors as well as pedicab and tricycle drivers," the business leader said.

He urged local government to provide workers and those in other affected sectors with subsistence for the next seven days.

Carbon said that "we have bring into open that there is cost-benefit trade-off and that the government must pay the cost to lessen the pain of losing their source of daily subsistence."

As of Sunday night, they have not received a copy of the advisory from the PCG, "which is the implementing agency when it comes to suspension of sea vessel trips."

"We are expecting it Monday morning," Carbon said, adding that if the travel moratorium takes effect on May 25, the ferry service of Weesam Express for cities of Bacolod and Iloilo will continue until Monday.

The operator said adults, minors or children with accompanying guardians, and senior citizens are allowed to travel.

"Only your BacTrac card and identification card (ID) are required. Nothing more," he added.

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