By Ivy Marie Mangadlao
Correspondent
DEL CARMEN, Surigao del Norte ― Tourists from Luzon and Visayas who are planning to visit the province of Surigao del Norte would have to postpone their trips as the provincial government will suspend air and sea travel going to the province for two weeks from August 11 until 22 to protect residents from the Covid-19 and the Delta variant.
Governor Francisco Matugas issued the order on August 7, Saturday following the detection of Delta variants in nine regions, including the National Capital Region.
Matugas said the order is meant to address and slow down the chilling effect of the Covid-19 Delta variant in the province.
With the order, Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) are not covered in the suspension of travels but they are subjected to mandatory travel protocols at the airports and seaports.
As stipulated, APORs include health workers on official business, government officials, returning overseas Filipino workers, and bank personnel tasked to replenish cash.
Surigao del Norte residents and non-resident APORs are also allowed to enter by land provided that they can present the required health and travel documents.
Passing through travelers will only be required to present valid IDs and get a “Passing through Card” at the entry point that will be surrendered at the exit point.
Matugas asked airline and shipping companies to strictly implement the order and observe the policies.
The suspension, however, exempts the travel for the domestic air and sea travels of cargoes.
Out of the six regions in Mindanao, three regions remain no reported case of the Delta variant which are Region 12, Region 13-Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as of August 9.
