Subic Freeport suspends leisure travel from Bataan

The Malawaan Park is among the most accessible tourist spots inside the Subic Bay Freeport. On Wednesday, June 16, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority suspended the leisure travel of residents coming from the neighboring Bataan province after it was placed on a modified enhanced community quarantine. (Photo courtesy of SBMA)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Leisure travel between Bataan and this free port had been suspended after the province reverted to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced Wednesday the travel restriction, citing resolution no. 121 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases that raised the quarantine classification of Bataan.

MECQ is the second most restrictive form of quarantine in the country.

According to the SBMA, only essential travel would be allowed between Bataan and Subic Bay.

Bataan had seen a surge in COVID-19 cases early this month, which was the basis of IATF to place it on MECQ.

It was previously under a modified general community quarantine, the least restrictive quarantine classification.

As of June 16, Bataan had 1,323 active COVID-19 cases out of the 9,924 recorded since last year.

At least 319 residents had died of COVID-19.

LZB