ARRIVAL. Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Ryan Gamboa (left) and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz (2nd from left) facilitate the arrival of 84 Negrenses stranded in Luzon at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City on Thursday (March 18, 2020). The passengers are now considered persons under monitoring and will undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at Mambukal Resort in Murcia town. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – A total of 84 Negrenses stranded in Luzon, placed by President Rodrigo Duterte under enhanced community quarantine to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), have been flown into Negros Occidental on Thursday.
The passengers departed Clark International Airport via Cebu Pacific flight 5J153 around 10 a.m. and arrived at Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City before noon.
The group was welcomed by Provincial Board Member Ryan Gamboa and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
“They traveled on a special Cebu Pacific flight facilitated by the provincial government,” a statement from the Capitol said.
The Negrense passengers are now considered persons under monitoring (PUMs) and will undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at Mambukal Resort in Murcia town.
The Capitol-owned resort suspended its operations effective Thursday to accommodate the Negrense PUMs, who will be provided food and lodging by the provincial government, the statement added.
The PUMs will not be allowed to leave the quarantine area or accept visitors, and will be strictly monitored, the Capitol said.
In the meantime, Mambukal Resort will not accept reservations until further notice.
Starting March 14, the provincial government required all travelers arriving from Metro Manila to undergo a 14-day home quarantine upon their arrival in the province.
These passengers are considered as PUMs as stated in Executive Order No. 20-13 issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, adopting unified protocols on the border and intra-province control for Covid-19.
The mandatory quarantine will be supervised by the Provincial Health Office. (PNA)
