ITBAYAT, BATANES — People and goods would have to disembark and be unloaded from motorboats, known locally as faluwa, farther from their usual port to prevent contact with crewmen of a vessel that would unload construction cargo.
The faluwa would dock at Chinapoliran Port in this town in the next three days, according to an agreement reached on Thursday (March 12) by a task force formed to fight the spread of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
The transfer would keep Batanes folk away from the Valanga Port which would be used this weekend by a landing craft transport (LCT) barge to unload construction supplies, according to Mayor Raul de Sagon, who heads the task force.
The mayor said bringing faluwa passengers to the farther port would prevent contact with contractors or the barge’s crew.
The task force, composed of village leaders, teachers, and health workers, was initially concerned about the arrival of the LCT on Saturday (Mar. 14) to unload 3,000 bags of cement, construction-grade sand and aggregates, large trucks and other heavy equipment.
Once the operation is completed, the barge, the vehicles and the docks would be disinfected. The construction materials would be moved only after three days.