No border shutdown in Borongan for COVID-19, but only selective entry

TACLOBAN CITY—The mayor of Borongan City in Eastern Samar province, which is still free of COVID-19, has ordered entry to the city restricted to only those delivering essential services and goods and government personnel.

In an order issued last March 30, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said he would limit the number of people entering Borongan during the duration of the city’s version of community quarantine.

Under the mayor’s order, entry to the city would be allowed only for medical workers, cargo and delivery workers with one truck with only the driver and a helper and provincial and congressional district employees riding in government vehicles.

Residents from other towns in the province must first secure what the order termed as out-of-town pass from their mayors to be allowed entry into Borongan.

People allowed to enter the city but are not residents are required to leave within the day.

The mayor said while the restrictions may appear to be harsh, he had no choice but limit entry into the city to protect its people.

“I hope you will understand me,” the mayor said.

“I have to protect the people of Borongan because that’s my mandate. In a similar manner, I also have to protect you (city nonresidents),” he said in a media interview.

Agda said many outsiders continued to enter the city despite the community quarantine that has been in place since March 22 and would last until April 12.

Borongan has a population of more than 70,000 and has no COVID-19 case so far. It has one person under investigation, or without symptom and 226 persons under monitoring, those without symptoms but had travelled to infected places and come into contact with carriers.

Edited by TSB