BAGUIO CITY – The mayors of five local government units in Benguet and this city have agreed to further tighten the border control to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“To mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and to address the high attack rate of the virus as well as manage health care resources, the mayors of BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay) mutually decided again to limit the entry to and between the BLISTT areas to travels for work and official business, access to essential goods and services from January 10 to January 24,” the advisory from the BLISTT governing council stated.
The council advised residents of the six local governments who cross the borders adjacent to each other are required to present valid government identification cards and health declaration forms at border checkpoints.
The advisory, however, exempts health workers, uniformed personnel, members of the city, provincial or municipal Covid-19 contact tracing teams, members of the city, provincial, municipal Covid-19 task force, and personnel in LGU and agency offices, cargo and logistic services, and service providers for water, electricity, telecommunications, ICT and waste management utilities from the requirement.
It also advised non-residents going to La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay, and from other regions and provinces to present their Travel Authority, Permit, and Medical Certificate issued in their place of origin.
For those entering this city, the processes provided in https://hdf.baguio.gov.ph/ for essential travels and returning residents shall apply, and the https://visita.baguio.gov.ph for tourists.
As of Jan. 7, the Cordillera has recorded a total of 7,822 Covid-19 cases with 543 active infections.
Baguio City has 292 active cases, Benguet has 178, Mountain Province with 33, Kalinga has 26, Abra has seven, Ifugao with five, and Apayao has two.
The region also recorded 115 deaths. (PNA)
