Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo on Thursday extended the enhanced community quarantine in the Province up to April 30 amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (CoDiD-19) pandemic.
Degamo signed Executive Order No. 2020-28, following a “unanimous recommendation” by the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on CoViD-19, with Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias, provincial government officials, and government agencies during a meeting Monday at the Negros Oriental Convention Center here.
He also met and consulted with the local chief executives and other stakeholders early this week prior to the decision to extend the ECQ even though there have been no new confirmed CoViD-19 cases in the past several days.
The Governor had earlier declared through another executive order, the imposition of the 14-day province-wide ECQ starting April 3 at 12:01 a.m. and ending at 12:01 of April 18 to prevent a community transmission of the dreaded coronavirus.
Following that order, the Province was also placed under a state of calamity, with the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, allowing the use of its Quick Response Fund for utilization of personal protective equipment, distribution of relief assistance to the local government units, among others.
The ECQ also led to strict measures such as border closures with air, sea, and land travel suspended, the imposition of curfew for senior citizens and students, the regulated movement of the public with quarantine passes issued in every LGU, a liquor ban, and the closure of restaurants and other establishments that are “non-essential”.
The new executive order stipulates the extension of the ECQ, adopting the same rules and regulations in the previous EO.
It also stipulated the allocation of PHP2 million each for downloading to the cities and municipalities in Negros Oriental for CoViD-19-related expenses, pursuant to Appropriation Ordinance No. 2, Series of 2020, to be drawn from the General Fund as approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
It also authorized the transport of more than 400 Negros Oriental residents who were stranded in Samboan, Cebu, since the end of March following the Province’s sealing of its borders.
These individuals, who have completed the 14-day quarantine, will be allowed to return to Negros Oriental via barge trips from the Bato Wharf in Samboan to the Tampi Wharf in Amlan, Negros Oriental, provided proper protocols are followed.
The Governor said the ECQ will remain in effect until April 30, unless lifted or withdrawn earlier depending on the recommendation of health authorities based on data/records that would show a “flattening of the curve”, referring to the CoViD-19 cases. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)