NegOr Guv: Quarantine pass not needed for now

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 30 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo clarified the issuance of quarantine pass is not needed for now since the province is still under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) due to COVID-19 threat. 

Degamo issued the clarification during a conference with Local Chief Executives (LCEs) organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Negros Oriental on March 27 at the Visionaire’s Lounge in this city. 

The governor said a quarantine pass will only be needed if the province is put under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). 

“We are not declaring the province as ECQ. Dili kinahanglan ang quarantine pass sa mga kabarangayan. Ako ning panawagan sa tanan kabarangayan, nag-meeting mi sa inyong mga mayor. Nagsabot ang tanan na wala pa tay quarantine pass because we are not declaring our province under ECQ and hopefully dili ta moabot anang dapita (We are not declaring the province as ECQ therefore, a quarantine pass is not needed as of the moment in the barangay level. I would like to inform all barangays. I just had a meeting with their mayors and we decided not to push through with the quarantine pass because we are not declaring ECQ and hopefully we don’t come to that point),” Degamo said. 

This pronouncement of the local chief executive nullifies Sec. 3 of his Executive Order 24 which stipulates issuance of quarantine gate pass which will be presented in every checkpoint manned by personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Health (DOH), and Local Government Units (LGU). 

The quarantine pass shall also be used as legal permission for an individual to buy food and other necessities.  

Meanwhile, the issue on the declaration of ECQ over the province was also tackled in the said conference. 

Vice-Governor Mark Macias disclosed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution encouraging the governor to put the province under ECQ. 

However, it was raised by LCEs during the meeting that many factors should be considered  before making such a move, like the resources of LGUs that will shoulder the food for all households since businesses will be closed. 

Degamo said there is no need to declare an ECQ at the moment. 

Instead, the governor appealed to residents to religiously follow the protocols set by the Department of Health, especially the recommendation to stay at home to avoid the possibility of contracting the virus. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental) 

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