MANILA, Philippines — Over 300 Masbate-bound passengers who were stranded at the Pio Duran port in Albay have been allowed to return to their homes in Masbate, Arturo Vertisio the mayor of Aroroy town in Masbate said Friday.
These passengers had been stuck at the port after Masbate’s provincial government stopped their entry due to their “no vaccine, no entry” policy.
“Pinauwi na nila dito yung mga stranded,” Vertisio said in a televised briefing.
(They have allowed those who are stranded to return home.)
“Binalaan na lang nila yung mga coming pa na wag naman sana magmadali umuwi dahil dito nga sa mga cases ng COVID na talagang alarming para sa amin. Dumarami talaga. Mataas masyado,” he added.
(But they warned those who plan to come to Masbate not to rush about going home because the COVID cases here are very alarming. It’s too high.)
Vertisio assured that the passengers who were allowed to enter Masbate underwent a COVID-19 RT-PCR test and were provided transportation by the provincial government.
An executive order was earlier issued by Masbate Governor Antonio Kho barring the entry of persons into the province through its ports unless they present proof of “full vaccination at least 15 days before the said entry.” The order exempts persons transporting cargo.
“The other week po ipinatupad po ito ni governor dahil alarming po yung dumadami na cases, halos mapuno na yung provincial hospital namin sa cases ng COVID, maraming namamatay,” Vertisio said.
(This was implemented by the governor the other week because the increase in cases is alarming, our provincial hospital is almost full of COVID cases and many people are dying.)
“Noong tinesting namin ito, bumaba sya (cases). Ngayon, pinagaaralan namin kung ipagpapatuloy ito o hindi,” he added.
(When we tested this, the cases went down. Now, we are studying if we will continue to implement this policy.)
Data from the Department of Health – Bicol showed that Masbate province has 991 active COVID-19 cases as of August 25.