LGUs want quarantine for arrivals from NCR

Some local governments have required a 14-day self-quarantine for people from Metro Manila, fearing a mass exodus to their provinces of residents escaping the 30-day community quarantine that started today in the National Capital Region (NCR) to contain the cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

Tarlac province Gov. Susan Yap on Saturday asked residents now in Metro Manila to submit to a 14-day self-quarantine when they return to their hometowns.

In Olongapo City, its COVID-19 task force said that new arrivals in the city, including those who traveled from Metro Manila, are automatically classified as persons under monitoring (PUMs) and must submit to a 14-day quarantine.

As of Saturday, the task force reported two persons under investigation and 51 PUMs.

In Baguio City, health and police officials have been monitoring daily arrivals due to a perceived exodus from Metro Manila although the volume of visitors at the start of the weekend has been low, said Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

Last week, Magalong canceled crowd-drawing activities like the Baguio Flower Festival.

Baguio’s emergency health teams in villages were tasked with securing information on visitors, particularly foreigners, who are booked in hotels, inns and other lodging houses.

Monitoring entry, exit

In Nueva Ecija province, Jaen officials said they would interview people entering the town.Checkpoints would be set up in all 27 villages to monitor the entry and exit of visitors and returning overseas Filipino workers.

The provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur in Bicol also imposed a 14-day self-quarantine for new arrivals amid the influx of people returning home to flee the NCR lockdown.

Mayor Nelson Legacion of Naga City in Camarines Sur even warned that those planning to defy the city’s self-quarantine order would face arrest.

Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. also issued an order that NCR residents from areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases would be barred from entering the province.

Those found negative or without symptoms of COVID-19 but came from Metro Manila must undergo home self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of their arrival.

A similar mandated quarantine for arrivals from Metro Manila was also issued in Palawan, particularly in Puerto Princesa City, Coron and El Nido.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., who is on home quarantine following a recent trip to Manila, on Friday asked Maranaos who arrived from Metro Manila to undergo at least 14 days of isolation.

The Department of Health in the Caraga region (Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands) made a similar appeal.

About 6,000 passengers fly in and out of Northern Mindanao daily.

In the Visayas, the local governments of Negros Occidental and Tacloban City in Leyte said passengers from Manila would be considered PUMs the moment they arrive in their areas and must undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Cebu and Eastern Samar have no formal orders but have advised those coming from Metro Manila to go into a 14-day self-quarantine once they enter these provinces.

“Self-quarantine, after all, is not that difficult. So we asked those who have just arrived from Manila to please put yourselves on self-quarantine,” said Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.

At present, there is no mandatory quarantine being imposed for people arriving at the Mactan Cebu International Airport from domestic destinations such as Metro Manila.

—Reports from Maria Adelaida Calayag, Joanna Rose Aglibot, Armand Galang, Villamor Visaya Jr., Yolanda Sotelo, Shiena Barrameda, Carla Gomez, Ador Mayor, Joey Gabieta, Divina Suson and Ryan Rosauro