[UPDATED] The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 has approved the request of Iloilo province to suspend commercial sea travel between Bacolod and Dumangas ports for one week.
The IATF resolution was signed by RIATF chair Juan Enginiero. The Bacolod-Dumangas route covers the operations of roll-on, roll-off vessels.
For his part, Governer Eugenio Lacson of Negros Occidental said he sees no issues with the travel moratorium between the 2 islands. The governor said he supports the travel ban if Iloilo City feels that this will help address the surge of cases in their locality.
Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City has issued Executive Order No. 27 Series of 2021 that also suspends travel between Bacolod City and Iloilo City starting today, May 25 to 31. The mayor said the suspension may earlier be lifted or further extended.
Iloilo City was placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine last May 23 following a request from the city due to surge of COVID-19 cases. But transport of good between the 2 islands will remain unhampered while Iloilo City is under a more restricted quarantine status.
