Cebu ports to remain closed

“You had ample time to go home that you could have used if you really wanted to go home. That is, if you listened to the news. That time the president already closed Manila. In reaction to that we also closed our borders, but not right away. We gave 72 hours to prepare you. The last to close were our seaports. We allowed sea travel for all the Cebuanos who wanted to come home. My question: Why did you not come home,” said Garcia in a video posted in Sugbo News, an official Facebook page of the Cebu government. 

The provincial government was criticized earlier for allowing more than 200 OFWs previously stranded in Manila to come home last April 28. These OFWs were brought home via 2GO’s mercy voyage sponsored by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. 

The governor earlier denied allowing the trip, saying she only learned of it through social media. 

Garcia later ordered all of the ship’s passengers to undergo a 14-day quarantine and Covid-19 testing before going to their hometowns. Seventeen of the passengers tested positive for the deadly virus.

“Do not blame me. Don’t call me out. You call that a mercy flight because you will again repatriate (the stranded). Overall, it is a national government policy,” said Garcia. 

Garcia adds that only the shipping of essential cargo and medical personnel will be allowed.