COVID-19 outbreak in Iloilo firm prompts border controls
The municipality of Lambunao in Iloilo will strictly enforce border restrictions starting today to manage the spread of COVID-19 as a construction firm in adjacent Calinog town recorded 42 cases.
“In order to manage the spread of COVID-19 in the municipality of Lambunao, there is a need for a strict enforcement of border restrictions and checkpoints in the boundaries of the municipality of Lambunao and the municipality of Calinog from April 19 to April 29, 2021,” Executive Order (EO) number 23, signed by Mayor Reynor Gonzales on April 16, read.
Checkpoints will be established in the entry points of Lambunao, particularly in barangays Alugmawa, Buwang, Cabunlawan, Malag-it, and Maribong.
The EO also prohibits Calinog-based public utility vehicles from loading and unloading their passengers at any point of Lambunao, including the public transport terminal, while tricycles could not enter the borders.
Private vehicles, however, are allowed to pass through but they could not stop at any point of Lambunao. They are also advised to observe minimum health protocols.
“Transport groups based in the municipality of Lambunao shall augment to provide public transport services from Barangay Maribong to Iloilo City,” the EO said.
Some residents of Lambunao can cross the border to work or run personal errands in Calinog but will not be able to return until the border restriction is lifted.
To help in the contact tracing, the town urged its residents working at the Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. in Calinog to get in touch with the municipal health office.
On April 15, Calinog stopped Daewoo’s operations and closed its office in Barangay Agcalaga for contract tracing and mass swabbing.
The day after, 15 new cases were added to the 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the firm, bringing the firm’s active cases to 42.