CORTES, Bohol, Aug. 18 (PIA) -- The two-week suspension of air and sea travel to Bohol continues as Gov. Arthur Yap, through an Executive Order, extended the inbound travel ban to the island for another 11 days.
Through Executive Order No. 40 series of 2021, the governor extended the ban on non-essential travel to Bohol from Aug. 6 to 20, until Aug. 31, effective as soon as the efficacy of the earlier Executive Order 37, series of 2021 lapses on Aug. 20.
The governor, in the new order, said the reason for the extension is due to the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the country brought about by the new variants of concern.
The governor cited the Delta variant among other variants of concern and of interest.
The decision came about during the Bohol Inter-Agency task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting with Bohol mayors, Inter-Agency Task Force medical task group, officers of the Provincial Tourism Council, and the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants on Aug. 16.
The said groups recommended the extension of the suspension of travel by non-Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) across Bohol borders through air and sea.
The extension would be until Aug. 31, 2021.
The travel ban excludes health workers on official business, authorized government officials, and those traveling for humanitarian reasons, returning Overseas Filipino Workers, persons providing basic services and public utilities and bank personnel and other bank employees who shall enter Bohol to replenish cash funds and other supplies which are essential to the flow of local banking and financial services.
Outside travel from Bohol, however, remains open, but these are subject to the entry protocols imposed in the place of destination.
The order also extends the applicability and effectivity of the sections of the earlier executive order especially on the testing and quarantine protocols for entering APORs and strict border control protocols at all ports and airports of entry, as well as the penal provisions set by applicable laws and local ordinances. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)
