Iloilo city ports open to Negros Occidental travelers despite closed borders, Treñas assures

BACOLOD CITY –– Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas on Thursday assured travelers from Negros Occidental that his city’s ports would remain open to them despite the closure of Iloilo province’s borders.

Treñas said Iloilo City, which is a highly urbanized city, would not close its borders to inter-island travel from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Occidental, said passengers traveling between Bacolod City and Iloilo City only have to present their identification cards.

However, residents of Iloilo province traveling on roll-on, roll-off vessels from Negros Occidental to the Dumangas port need to have an authority to travel.

They must obtain a health certificate, a proof that they are residents of Iloilo province, and a travel authority from the Philippine National Police, Benjamin said.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., in Executive Order No. 128-E, closed the borders of Iloilo province to travelers from Capiz, Antique, and Negros Occidental, with few exceptions, until July 15 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.

LZB