THE operation of passenger vessels in Bacolod City has been cancelled until May 31.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has asked the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to stop the resumption of operations of passenger vessels within areas under general community (GCQ), as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
It was earlier announced that sea trips in Bacolod City were set to resume on Monday, May 18.
In his letter dated May 15, addressed to Marina administrator Vadm Robert Epedrad, Leonardia said that upon consultation with the city officials and the local Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19, and in harmony with the Province of Negros Occidental, they are requesting to postpone the implementation of Marina Advisory No 2020-29 Series of 2020, and the Department of Transportation Memorandum dated May 4, allowing the resumption of operations of passenger vessels within areas under GCQ.
"The City of Bacolod, along with the entire Western Visayas Region, shall be placed under GCQ effective May 16. It is our belief that most, if not all, concerned local government units (LGUs) share the same apprehension that should passenger travel via our seaports resume, the possibility of spreading Covid-19 infection across borders will substantially increase," the mayor said.
"Notwithstanding the lawful mandate of the LGUs to impose measures to protect the health and safety of its constituents, we respectfully cite Presidential Proclamation No. 922 which capacitates LGUs to implement critical measures to prevent of contain the spread of the virus," Leonardia added.
Marina regional director Josse Venancio Vero Jr. also said that the management of the three passenger vessels plying Bacolod and Iloilo already agreed to suspend their operations until May 31.
