Camarines Sur’s Rinconada area closes borders vs COVID-19

LEGAZPI CITY – Six towns and a city in the so-called Rinconada area of Camarines Sur have closed its borders and prohibited entry of outsiders to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a press conference, Maridel Verrosa, incident management team commander of Iriga City, said all the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMO) agreed to the “Rinconada convergence effort” against COVID-19 to lock down the entire area effective 8 a.m., Thursday.

She said the residents inside the municipalities of Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula, Nabua, and Iriga City can pass through the borders provided that they have passes from their local government units or barangays.

“The city is open to neighboring towns because hospitals and big grocery stores are here. Passes are needed to check and regulate the mobility of people,” she added.

Passes would be given to persons who need to buy food, medicines, medical supplies and those with emergency purposes.

In Nabua town, Adam Christian Bardon of planning and research department of MDRRMO said each town has border control checkpoints to monitor all the travelers.

Only the essential workforce including health workers would be allowed to pass through the borders while other people should present papers indicating their purpose, proof of residency and permit to travel.

Cargoes with goods and necessities were exempted.