By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, admitted that the present one-week travel moratorium between the province and Iloilo will have a negative impact on the economy of both provinces.

According to Diaz, he hopes Iloilo City will be able to control their coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, cases soon, as a lot of workers and businesses are affected, especially those who routinely cross both provinces regularly to attend to their projects or for business transactions.

The commercial vessels servicing both provinces are the most affected by the ongoing moratorium.

Despite the issue, Diaz said they still support the decision of both the Iloilo city and provincial governments, as they believe that it will help the former further control the spread of COVID-19 cases in their area.

Earlier on Tuesday, May 25, trips between Iloilo City and Dumangas town in Iloilo province to Bacolod City were suspended after Iloilo City was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

The travel moratorium is expected to last until Monday, May 31./DGB, WDJ