FORMER Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez assured stranded Negrenses of their return to the province amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
"Rest assured that we will try to bring you back to the province as soon as possible. We will make sure that precautions are taken when you are back so that you will not infect other people here," Benitez said.
He revealed that the provincial command center will be given the plan for the return of the stranded Negrenses.
A total of 721 Negrenses from different areas in the Philippines have registered on the website of the Provincial Government to express their intention to come home to Negros Occidental.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caellian, head of the Disaster Management Program Division, in his report said that of the total number, 213 are coming from Metro Manila as of April 18.
The report showed that the most number of returning Negrenses are residents of Bago City totaling to 29.
Also with the high numbers of returning residents are Sagay City with 24, Talisay City- 22, Kabankalan- 15, Victorias City- 11 and EB Magalona-10, the report said.
Another 356 are residents of Bacolod City, Caellian said.
Under Executive Order No. 20-20-B, series of 2020 signed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on April 16 commencing the gradual transition of the province from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ), the mandatory 14-day quarantine for returning residents of the province shall be observed and heightened patrol of seaports and borders will continue. The closure of borders, ports and airports of the province shall remain in full force and effect.
In order to preserve the health and safety of all Negrenses against the Covid-19 pandemic, strict home quarantine shall be observed. Movement shall be limited to accessing basic commodities as there will be heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedure, the EO stated.
A total of 66 Negrenses returned to Negros Occidental on Saturday, April 18, and were placed under 14-day quarantine at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia and the EB Magalona healing center as a precaution against the Covid-19 pandemic.