LEGAZPI CITY—The peace and order council of Bicol passed a resolution to narrow the passage of stranded individuals through the region’s border with Quezon province.
The resolution sought to bar the entry of vehicles carrying stranded persons who have not completed the documentary requirements for travel during the pandemic.
Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, in a text message, said that the council resolution was an offshoot of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Bicol which officials are blaming on stranded Bicolanos returning to their home provinces in the region.
Rosal said the resolution to strengthen border checkpoints would enable police, the Land Transportation Office and health officials to check if cars, vans and buses carrying stranded passengers have complete documentary requirements.
The checkpoints would be in Del Gallego town, Camarines Sur province.
Stranded persons with complete documents would be required to go straight to quarantine in their hometowns and get new coronavirus tests.
As of Tuesday (July 7), the region has at least 190 COVID-19 cases.