By Jigger J. Jerusalem,
Correspondent
THE enhanced community quarantine is now in effect in Bukidnon following the order of Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. to close its borders to non-residents of the province as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) within his jurisdiction.
At the quarantine checkpoint in Barangay Alae, Manolo Fortich, a combined team of police, military, municipal and regional health personnel screen every individual who passes through the border-control facility.
There are at least four Cagayan de Oro-Bukidnon boundaries located in the towns of Manolo Fortich, Libona, Talakag, and Baungon.
Aside from going through temperature check and foot bath (a cloth soaked in disinfectant where people step on), both motorists and passengers are now being required to show identification cards to prove that they are residents of Bukidnon, said Cpl. Krishna Joy Hingcayog, an officer of the Manolo Fortich municipal police.
Hingcayog said they are now very strict in allowing people in, as they have already refused entry to close to a dozen people who cannot establish their residency in Bukidnon.
"We have to turn them away.We cannot allow them to enter Bukidnon because they have failed to present any identification to show they are residents,” she said.
But, Hingcayog said, they gave consideration to four young people on board a public utility van heading for Lantapan town in Bukidnon who failed to present their ID cards since their companion vouched for them that they are indeed bonafide residents of the municipality.
For Emilio Gales, 43, a resident of Barangay Damilag, Manolo Fortich, passing through a stringent protocol before getting to this home is not a bother to him.
"It’s not a hassle. I’m fine with it. It’s for our safety,” said Gales, who works at a warehouse owned by a multinational corporation in Claveria town, Misamis Oriental, and has to travel outside Bukidnon every day.
Based on Zubiri’s order, exempted from showing their identification documents are health workers who are responding to an emergency, government officials or employees whose travel to Bukidnon is in relation with Covid-19; entities or organizations on humanitarian mission such as the Red Cross; and people delivering supplies like food and medicine.
People may no longer be asked to show their IDs, but Hingcayog said they are still required to subject to thermal scans and foot baths.
Zubiri issued Executive Order no. 13 putting the entire province on community quarantine on March 17.
Incidentally, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, the governor’s son, has tested positive for coronavirus.
Following the younger Zubiri’s announcement, 18 of the 20 municipal mayors from Bukidnon who met with the senator in a luncheon on March 10 are on self-imposed 14-day isolation. Even the governor has done the same.
