BACOLOD CITY –– At least 213 Negrenses, who were stranded at the Tabuelan port in Cebu, have returned to Negros Occidental on Thursday.
They arrived on board four vessels at the Danao Port in Escalante City, said Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, chief of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division.
Mayor Raul Gerona of Tabuelan town, Cebu earlier prohibited people, who wanted to return to Negros and Iloilo, from passing through the town’s port to suppress the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, however, requested Escalante Mayor Melecio Yap to appeal to Gerona to allow the Negrenses to return to Negros.
The request was granted.
The locally stranded individuals (LSIs), who returned to Negros on Thursday, were brought to the Escalante Coliseum for COVID-19 swab testing. They were picked up by vehicles from their respective towns and cities, where they will be quarantined.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said other Negrense LSIs in Cebu should not go to the Tabuelan port yet.
“They should have their names listed by their local government units or the Negros Occidental Tourism Division so they can be issued certificates of acceptance,” he said.
The provincial government, he said, would then seek permission from the Tabuelan local government so the LSIs would be allowed to travel to Negros Occidental.
LSIs who wanted to apply for certificates of acceptance should send the following information to the Negros Occidental Tourism Division Facebook page: name, age, address in Negros Occidental, telephone number, and civil status.
They should also present proof of residence in Negros, such as a government identification card or school IDs for students.
When quarantine facilities are available, the applicants will be informed to proceed to the Tabuelan port.
For more details, they may call 476-2018 or 09610439557.
Diaz said Negrenses from Cebu without certificates of acceptance will not be allowed to return home.
LZB