Travel by stranded persons for Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Camiguin suspended for 15 days

July 7, 2020

Issuance of travel authority for locally stranded individuals bound for  Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Camiguin is suspended for 15 days, according to Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Tuesday.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, JTF commander, said he ordered all police commanders in Metro Manila to comply following the decision of Defense Secretary and National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chairman Delfin Lorenzana to suspend the repatriation of locally stranded individuals from Manila to the three provinces.

Lorenzana approved the request of Basilan Governor Hataman Jim Salliman, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., and Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo to suspend the repatriation of locally stranded individuals bound to their respective provinces.

Camiguin is in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) while Lanao del Sur and Basilan are in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao).

In most cases, the request for suspension of repatriation is because quarantine facilities in the provinces have reached maximum capacity.

Based on the JTF COVID Shield and PNP protocol, station commanders, chiefs of police, district directors, the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office and the director for operations of the PNP are allowed to issue travel authority.

The requirements for a travel authority are medical clearance certificates and the coordination with the receiving local government units.

Aside from the three provinces, the issuance of travel authority remains suspended for locally stranded individuals bound for Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

The travel ban for Eastern Visayas started on June 25 while the same ban was made for Western Visayas starting June 28 along with Cebu Island and Mactan Island in Region 7.

Eleazar said they will wait for the instruction from the NTF COVID-19 before ending the travel ban to Eastern Visayas on July 9 and in Western Visayas, Cebu Island and Mactan Island on July 12.

All travel by locally stranded individuals going to and out of Cebu City are suspended indefinitely as the area is still under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Ella Dionisio/DMS