Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 30) — Sulu will officially close its borders from January 4 to 17 to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus variant in the province.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan made the announcement on Wednesday’s Laging Handa briefing, following reports that the new COVID variant that first emerged in the United Kingdom has reached Sabah, Malaysia.
“Magkakaroon ng lockdown effective 4 January hanggang 17, and extendable iyan, depende sa sitwasyon,” he bared, citing the executive order that he signed on Tuesday evening.
[Translation: The lockdown will be effective January 4 up to 17 and this is extendable, depending on the situation.]
Under the executive order, only uniformed personnel and health workers are allowed to travel after securing clearance from their head office, the local government, and after presenting a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab test result of not more than five days upon entry to Sulu.
Movement of all types of goods and basic commodities by land, air or sea will be unhampered. Officers and crews of cargo vessels shall observe precautionary measures set by the Sulu Task Force on COVID-19.
Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan supported the move and said that they have deployed troops to stop the entry of passenger vessels from Sabah and guard the borders of the southernmost part of the Philippines.
The same order also maintains Sulu’s modified general community quarantine status up to January 31, 2021.
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the situation in Sulu would be closely monitored, in coordination with health experts, as part of their surveillance efforts in preventing the entry of the new COVID variant in the country.
“The navy vessels of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao will also conduct patrol in the maritime borders of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the Zamboanga Peninsula to prevent the entry of inflicted individuals to our area of operation,” he said in a statement.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and other concerned agencies shall diligently guard and secure Sulu’s coastlines to deter or apprehend back-door entry by Jungkungs (boats) and other mode of passenger-carrying sea vessels and charge violators in accordance with existing laws,” the order read.
