Iloilo City bans non-essential outbound, inbound travel
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. Photo from his Facebook page
ILOILO CITY –– This city will close its borders for non-essential travel starting Wednesday, May 26, to help contain a surge in COVID-19 cases.
In an executive order issued Tuesday, Mayor Jerry Treñas directed the closure of all borders for all forms of travel until May 31.
The order prohibits entry to and exit from the city, except for work, medical needs, accessing government services, transport of goods and construction materials, humanitarian purposes, returning overseas Filipino workers, stranded residents, and authorized persons.
The mayor cited the continued sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, which has reached 7,128 as of May 23.
These include 981 active cases and 194 deaths.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had earlier placed the city under a modified enhanced community quarantine from the previous modified general community quarantine effective May 23 to 31.
Article continues after this advertisementTreñas also directed a temporary closure of non-essential businesses.
Businesses allowed to operate vary from full operation to reduced on-site capacity.
Among those allowed unhampered operations are health and medical facilities; manufacturers of medicines and medical supplies; food production, preparation, and delivery industries; essential construction projects; and retail trade and service establishments, including supermarkets.
Others with a reduced workforce include business process outsourcing firms, banks, and media organizations.
Playgrounds and courts in public plazas would also be closed, according to the executive order.
In a separate executive order, Treñas placed five of the city’s 180 villages under lockdown for three days until May 28.
The Iloilo City Hall had been shut down for a week since Sunday for disinfecting due to the rising number of infected employees.
At least 26 city hall employees, including two who died, have been infected in May alone, according to city health office data.
Treñas ordered the conduct of mass testing for employees and workers of the city government.
LZB
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