BORDER RESTRICTION. An interagency task force composed of the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other government agencies implements border restriction as prevention against the spread of Covid-19 in Antique province on Tuesday (March 17, 2020). A unified policy on the implementation of border restriction is being urged on Panay island. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) office wants a unified policy on the border restriction in Panay island, which is comprised of the provinces of Antique, Iloilo Capiz, and Aklan.
Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Officer Broderick Train, in an interview, said some commuters were confused during the first day of the implementation of the border restriction on Tuesday.
“There were commuters who were allowed to travel to Iloilo from Antique province but when they reached the Iloilo border they were not permitted to enter,” said Train, who is also the Incident Command System (ICS) commander and oversees the implementation of the border restriction in the province.
He said the public seems confused as the four provinces were allowed to come up with their own guidelines on how to implement the border restriction in their respective areas.
“I hope there will just be one directive on how to implement the border restriction,” he said.
Last March 16, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao issued Executive Order 35, which strengthens the measures to prevent and contain the spread and transmission of, and to protect the people from, infection with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The EO restricts travel of persons within, to and from Antique by land, sea, and air common and private carriers starting March 17 until April 15.
The governor on Tuesday also issued another EO for the creation of the Inter-Agency Task Force chaired by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address all concerns, issues or questions which may arise because of the two EOs.
The travel restriction exempts government officials and employees in connection with the performance of their official duties or functions.
Health personnel armed with thermal scanners join the local police in the conduct of checkpoints following the implementation of the border restriction in Hamtic and Anini-y towns in the southern part of the province bordering Iloilo; and Libertad and Pandan towns in the northern part bordering with Aklan. (PNA)
