SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, ANTIQUE – Antique’s Evelio B. Javier Airport and seaports in the province are now open for operation.
The opening is permitted under Executive Order 65-A issued by Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao on Wednesday which allows operations for road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors of public transportation aligned with the Omnibus Guidelines on the implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines.
“The airport and all seaports in the province of Antique shall now be allowed to operate to transport passengers and cargoes, provided that a strict one-meter distance among passengers is observed and appropriate engineering controls are in place,” she said in her order.
The resumption of operations is timely with the expected arrival of 500 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Manila via a roll-on, roll-off vessel. The LSIs are composed of Antiqueño students, construction, and other displaced workers in Manila.
A special arrangement was made by Antique Lone District Rep. Loren Legarda to help them come home.
The LSIs are expected to leave Batangas port on June 7 and they will be transported directly to the Lipata port in the municipality of Culasi, Antique on board the FastCat roll on-roll off on June 8, Provincial information officer Junlie Saylo said in an interview on Thursday.
Aside from Lipata, other ports that are opening are in the towns of Libertad and Caluya, said Philippine Coast Guard Station commander Perlita Cinco.
“We are advising sea vessel passengers to observe the health protocol,” she said, adding that they are advised to wear a face mask and to observe safe physical distancing.
Meanwhile, Cadiao, in her meeting with the municipal mayors and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on May 29, said she was informed that the Philippine Airlines (PAL) will soon resume its operations at the Evelio B. Javier Airport.
During the period of the enhanced community quarantine, the airport was only utilized to transport medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE) from Manila.
PAL, which flies to Clark from Antique and vice-versa every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, has yet to make an official announcement as to when it will resume operations in Antique. (PNA)