This Week in Boracay and Iloilo (November 1 to 7, 2020)

Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin has strengthened the province’s protocols and policies to prevent further local COVID-19 transmission and to sustain the economy [1]. He issued Executive Order (EO) No. 70 which focused on border restraint, travel regulations, and community lockdown. Under the border restraint, only limited entry is allowed in the ports of Jordan, Buenavista, and RORO (Jordan) docks. Only outbound deliveries at the Sebaste pier shall be allowed, while incoming construction materials at Puyo pier and Tacay pier shall be permitted, provided permission from the governor is secured. Borders that are not mentioned in the EO will remain closed until further notice.

The EO also presented protocols on who shall not be allowed entry into and exit from Guimaras. Among those who shall not be allowed entry and exit in and from the province are individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, persons suspected of COVID-19, and uncertified as a recovered case by health officials. Also, locally stranded individuals (LSIs), returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and non-residents will be accommodated and screened before entering the province. Residents shall be allowed to leave the province as long as they issue an outbound pass. Meanwhile, non-residents who wish to enter the province shall present a Health Declaration Card form.

For community containment, here are the “new normal” protocols that should be observed:

• All business establishments should follow the 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM curfew.

• The 50% capacity shall be applied in all business establishments, venues for gatherings, and public utility vehicles.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) eyes a price cap on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antigen tests as tourism destinations around the country like Boracay reopen. According to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, implementing a price cap on tests will make traveling more affordable, thus attracting more travelers. DOT’s proposal aims to speed up economic recovery in the country [2].

As an initiative against the consequences of the pandemic, the Iloilo Provincial Government established a mental health program for the psychosocial well-being of Ilonggos. The mental health program is called “The Program for Resilience of Iloilo in Mind and Emotion” (Prime) and is part of the recovery plan of the province. Apart from reviving the province’s economy, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. wants to establish a healthcare system that will help residents face the new normal.

Prime will mainly focus on the mental being of ROFs, LSIs, frontline workers, and individuals who were affected by the pandemic. The provincial government of Iloilo has asked the assistance of Task Force Pagasa (Provincial Agencies in Action to Prevent Suicide Among People of all Ages) to spearhead the program. A mobile application was also proposed by the Provincial Population Office to make the services of Prime accessible and available to those in need [3].

To reduce congestion in MORE Power Iloilo payment centers and offices, the power distributor launched an online payment website for its consumers [4]. Consumers of MORE Power Iloilo can access their bills and pay their dues on the company’s website: http://payment.morepower.com.ph/.

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Boracay and Iloilo.