ON QUARANTINE. Passengers, mostly front-liners, undergo health protocol procedures before boarding the vessel plying the Zamboanga-Basilan route via Lamitan City. On Friday (May 29, 2020), trips to Basilan has been suspended as the vessel servicing the Zamboanga-Basilan route has been placed on quarantine. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Amaga)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A commercial vessel plying the Zamboanga-Basilan route via Lamitan City and its 10 crewmen have been placed on quarantine in this southern port city.
M/V Ciara Joie V of the Aleson Shipping Lines was placed on quarantine effective Friday on the recommendation of the Task Force coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)-water cluster.
Lt. Commander Jesse Guiniling, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said Friday they reached the decision after the first Covid-19 patient from Basilan province boarded the vessel on May 24 together with two medical personnel to undergo dialysis procedure at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC).
“They have to undergo the mandatory quarantine procedures,” Guiniling added.
The province of Basilan recorded its first Covid-19 case Wednesday. The patient is a 47-year-old male from the town of Tipo-Tipo, who regularly travels to this city to undergo dialysis at ZCMC.
Guiniling said the trips of vessels to the Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) areas continue but for cargoes only and in accordance with health protocols.
He said only Basilan has allowed the travel of front-liners from and to the province.
Meanwhile, he said trips to Basilan has been suspended effective Friday since M/V Ciara Joie V and its crew have been placed under quarantine.
The coast guard official said he was informed by the shipping company that the vessel will be replaced by another vessel, MV Ciara Joie VI, to ensure the continuous flow of cargoes in Basilan province.
“He said the trip from and to Basilan will resume once the replacement vessel is already available,” he said.
He said strict health protocols are in place at the local wharf to protect the port personnel from possible contamination of the dreaded Covid-19. (PNA)
