By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Despite the easing of travel restrictions in Negros Occidental, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said they have further tightened their sea borders.

According to Escalante, they are coordinating with other government agencies such as the police and the Philippine Coast Guard in order to safeguard their 40-kilometer long shoreline which faces the Visayan Sea.

The city mayor had also activated their networks in the barangay, especially those located in the coastal areas.

“We are very effective. I told residents living in coastal areas that if they allow their relatives to dock without going through our protocols and they bring with them the virus, they will be the first ones to be infected,” Escalante said.

The city mayor also revealed that last week, a vessel carrying 10 people originating from Bantayan Island, Cebu docked at the city’s shoreline in the early morning hours.

Escalante noted their arrival in the wee hours of the morning was “deceitful” but thankfully local residents immediately contacted local authorities and the 10 people were subsequently placed in the city’s quarantine facility.

He further stated that they have concerns that people originating from Masbate and Romblon may use Bantayan Island as a “jump-off” point heading to Negros, and as long as the city had not yet rolled out the COVID-19 vaccine to the general population, the city’s ferry services to the neighboring island will remain suspended./DGB, WDJ