By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an executive order late Wednesday night banning vessels from China, Macau, and Hong Kong from docking at the city’s ports amid concerns over the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19. He noted, the city government has been conscious of the serious threat posed by Covid-19 and the potential danger it may bring to the health, well-being, and life of city residents.
“The intention of the city government of Bacolod [is] to assume the position of taking major preventive measures to protect its citizens from possible exposure to carriers or sources of Covid-19,” the order read.
Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Occidental said the M/V Unicorn Bravo, a 3,300 metric ton cargo vessel from Xiamen, China, arrived late Monday evening. Lt. Commander Jansen Benjamin said the vessel was carrying 15 Chinese and four Burmese crew members, and transporting fertilizer.
Under PCG guidelines, the vessel was placed on a 14-day quarantine and ordered to anchor 400 meters away from Bredco Port during the quarantine period./DGB, WDJ