3 hotels to become quarantine facilities

CEBU, Philippines — Three hotels in Cebu have agreed to serve as quarantine facilities for incoming tourists amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order 5-J last March 15, including all passengers from international flights to Cebu under the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Garcia reportedly told hotel owners to consider this as a business opportunity as the would-be quarantined passengers will have to pay for their own confinement.

“It is also time for our hotels to consider this as a possible business opportunity at a time when they are now experiencing huge economic losses,” she said.

Hotels and resorts in the province, after the local and international travel restrictions imposed by the national government, have been experiencing major slumps in occupancy rates, with some reporting their current occupancy as low as 10 percent.

Under the mandatory quarantine, passengers will not be allowed to leave their hotel rooms. The hotels, along with the Cebu provincial government, are now working out the rates per person.

Garcia also stressed that passengers will be subject to the quarantine as a preventive measure. She added that they should not be seen as confirmed cases.

“Remember, this is just for quarantine purposes. It should not carry the stigma of one that is already proven a positive case,” she said.

Meanwhile, the entry of cargo and supplies in the province remains unrestricted despite the existing preventive travel ban on all incoming domestic sea trips and flights imposed under Garcia’s Executive Order No. 5-F, series of 2020.

Because of this, Garcia issued a memo under the implementing rules and regulations of her EO 5-F requiring truck drivers delivering cargo and supplies to undergo biosecurity measures.

At a press conference yesterday, March 17, the governor said that all suppliers who already have or would be able to source truck drivers from within the province should use their workforce in Cebu.

Truck drivers from the province of origin with available counterparts in Cebu should not disembark from the vessel they travelled in. Their cargo would then be transported by their counterparts in the province.

However, in case of suppliers who do not have drivers in Cebu, their trucks must only be allowed to disembark from the vessel after the drivers go through temperature checks and disinfection.

“Inig about sa pier, ang driver mo-subject sa all health checks ug sa disinfection method,” the governor said.

They must have change clothes on hand to put on after the necessary disinfection process. They must also food with them as they will not be allowed to stay out of their trucks.

From the port, the truck drivers will be escorted by the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) so as to make sure they do not make unnecessary stops.

Suppliers, including those for hogs, and sand and gravel must identify one drop off point for their products. From there individual dealers can then receive their respective orders.

“Atong hangyo, nga sabuton na lang nila ilang customer nga usa ra ka point of delivery. Adto na lang magbahin-bahin,” Garcia said.

This shall be observed for the entire duration of the preventive suspension of all sea trips in the province or from March 14 to April 13 or for a period of 30 days.

EO 5-F states:

“The delivery of cargo and supplies entering Cebu shall not be impeded. However, shipping crew and delivery personnel accompanying these shipments shall be subjected to the applicable health and quarantine protocols.”

Although incoming domestic trips are suspended, Garcia clarified that anyone is still free to exit the province.

When questioned on her authority to impose travel suspensions, Garcia said that prior to the issuance of any executive order, she has always convened stakeholders to get their inputs and suggestions.

Among them are the Cebu Port Authority, which has jurisdiction over all the ports in the province, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

Garcia also added that representatives from Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City, two independent charter cities, were present during the meetings.  JMD (FREEMAN)