Air and sea travel going to Surigao del Norte will be suspended for two weeks from Aug. 11 until 22 to protect residents from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and the Delta variant.
Gov. Francisco Matugas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 21-029 on Saturday following the detection of Delta variants in nine regions, including the National Capital Region.
“In order to address and slow down the chilling effect of Covid-19 Delta variant to this province, there is now an urgent need to impose stricter temporary measures to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19,” Matugas said.
Air and sea travel of passengers for Surigao del Norte from Luzon and the Visayas are suspended during the specified period, except for the domestic air and sea travels of cargoes.
Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) are not covered in the suspension of travels but they are subjected to mandatory travel protocols at the airports and seaports.
Under the EO, the APORs include health workers on official business, government officials, returning overseas Filipino workers, and bank personnel tasked to replenish cash.
Persons traveling for health and humanitarian reasons, including returning residents of the province, and those who are providing basic services, public utilities, and other essential services, are also exempted from the temporary suspension of travels.
The APORs are required to present at the airports and seaports negative results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 48 hours, valid identification cards and travel orders.
The EO added that fully vaccinated APORs would still present the specified documents prior to their entry in the province.
Residents, non-resident APORs who will enter the province by land will also be required to present negative RT-PCR and valid IDs.
Passing through travelers will only be required to present valid IDs and get a “Passing through Card” at the entry point that will be surrendered at the exit point.
Source: Philippines News Agency
