The moratorium in Bacolod effective December 21 to January 3 means that only LSIs (Locally Stranded Individuals) outside Region 6 (Western Visayas) will be disallowed entry to this City, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) clarified in a press release today, December 17.
It is not a lockdown, it stressed.
The EOC further clarified that the moratorium is only for LSIs and not for ROFs (Returning Overseas Filipinos), ROFWs (Returning Overseas Filipino Workers), and APORs (Authorized Persons Outside Residence).
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the Bacolod IATF, said that people should not confuse the “travel suspension” with a “lockdown.”
“This is a serious matter. We are in crisis. Let’s validate the information shared to us,” the vice mayor stressed.
On Dec. 8, the Regional IATF issued Resolution No. 95 series of 2020, which approved the proposed suspension of LSI arrivals into Bacolod City.
The city government had made the proposal to the RIATF by endorsing the letter of Councilor Cindy Rojas, chair of the Action Team on Non-OFW Returning Residents.
“Our healthcare workers like doctors, nurses, and members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) need a well-deserved break,” Rojas said.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy medical for data analysis and assessment, also made the same clarifications.
Sorongon emphasized that Bacolod is currently under a Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), the least stringent community quarantine status.
With the MGCQ, movement within Bacolod is still allowed yet regulated. The travel moratorium, on the other hand, would prohibit entry of LSIs from other areas in Western Visayas to Bacolod.
“The travel moratorium only covers LSIs coming from provinces outside of Region 6. So if you are from Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental, you can visit Bacolod City,” Sorongon said.
However, travel for leisure is still not allowed, the press release said.*