Bohol Governor Arthur Yap (File photo by Angeline Valencia)
TAGBILARAN CITY – The provincial government of Bohol has extended the suspension of domestic and international air and sea travel until April 12 as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Governor Arthur Yap announced Thursday the issuance of Executive Order No. 14 that will “give ample time to assess the exponential growth of Covid-19 cases outside Bohol.”
With new executive order, the suspension of domestic and international air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol originally set until March 20 pursuant to EO 8 he earlier issued has been extended until 11:59 p.m. of April 12.
“As such, the domestic and international air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol is strictly prohibited during the said period,” Yap said in his order.
This is considering the “confirmed reports that the threat of Covid-19 infections continues to persist not only in the Philippines but in other affected countries as well” and Bohol at this time is not yet ready with the facilities to respond to situations requiring massive quarantine and isolation.
Yap cited the assessment and recommendations of the technical working group (TWG) on New Emerging Infectious Diseases (Bohol Covid 19 Task Force) that “there is a need to extend the suspension of domestic and international air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol” for a number of reasons.
Among the reasons, he said, is the “lack of community awareness on the self-quarantine protocol despite widened information dissemination.”
The province has been working to get ready with the barangay and municipal isolation units and to put in place transport protocols, he added.
School buildings are also considered as alternative isolation centers which need coordination and approval of the Department of Education.
The barangay health emergency response teams (BHERTs) still have to undergo training or orientation on the new Covid-19 protocols.
He said the province is on its way to establishing a central isolation center while they are readying with the infrastructure and manpower complements.
They are in a procurement process for personal protection equipment and other supplies, he said.
The operational guidelines are still being crafted.
Yap said they are strengthening coastal security needs and addressing violations on social distancing in public areas.
“Lack of compliance on Department of Transportation (DOTr) protocol by public transport operators has also been noted,” he said.
A “substantial number of returning residents classified as persons under monitoring (PUMs) have not complied with the mandatory 14-day home quarantine,” he added.
The extension of community quarantine in Bohol is also consistent with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 929 which declared a state of calamity in the Philippines due to Covid-19. (PNA)
