Iloilo gov bans travelers from Negros Occidental, Capiz, Antique until July 15 to stop COVID-19 spread

BACOLOD CITY –– Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has banned the entry of travelers from Negros Occidental, Capiz, and Antique to his province until July 15 to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Defensor’s restriction on travel from the three provinces was contained in his Executive Order No. 128-E Series of 2020 extending the modified general community quarantine in Iloilo province until July 15.

He said only the following persons from the three provinces would be allowed to travel to Iloilo: government officials and personnel traveling in the performance of their functions, health and emergency frontline personnel, persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons, and persons granted passage to the airport for travel abroad, or from the airport to the border provided that travel within Iloilo shall be non-stop.

Also allowed to go to Iloilo are overseas Filipino workers returning on trips organized by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and residents of Iloilo City and Guimaras traveling from and into the province.

Residents of Iloilo, Iloilo City, and Guimaras, who are not locally stranded individuals (LSIs) coming from Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, and Antique, have until July 3 to return but must present proof of residence.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he was not aware of the ban imposed by Defensor.

He said Bacolod allowed travel between Iloilo and Bacolod because he was told that it was the consensus of the majority of Western Visayas leaders.