CEBU, Philippines — In consonance with the regulation of Cebu provincial government, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has issued an executive order requiring all passengers from Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental to present a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or rapid antigen test result when entering the city starting today until July 24, 2021.
Cortes’ EO 19 series of 2021 states that all persons originating from these three provinces shall be subject to a negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours or a negative rapid antigen test result taken 48 hours before departure from their place of origin.
These requirements are in addition to the previously established requirements for travelers in the city.
Cortes said it is deemed proper for the city to also regulate the entry of travelers coming from the said provinces following the regulation issued by the provincial government.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 22 on June 12, 2021 regulating the entry of passengers from these three neighboring provinces due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in their area.
“In order to create uniformity and avoid confusion to travelers to the whole of Cebu, as well as to effectively prevent the risk of COVID-19 transmission to all Mandauehanons,” reads part of the two-page EO.
Maria Knoll, Cebu Port Authority (CPA) public relations officer, said the maritime sector and shipping line operators were set to meet late yesterday afternoon to discuss the implementation of the new protocol.
“But initially, same ra gihapon ang role sa CPA which is to ferry all arriving passengers to staging area for the verification of travel requirements,” Knoll said.
The stricter protocol for passengers from the three provinces was a result of a joint decision of the Department of Health (DOH-7), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) following the spike in COVID-19 cases in these areas.
As of Sunday, Negros Oriental logged 3,134 active cases while Bohol has 1,339 cases. — FPL (FREEMAN)