Baguio, Benguet Covid up; Folks riled as border checks create traffic mess

 By Liza Galao and Marissa Cabato

BAGUIO CITY – Massive traffic hit road borders of Baguio and nearby Benguet towns starting Thursday as local governments implemented strict Covid containment rules following huge increase in cases of the dreaded virus in said areas.    
    Road border checkpoints will be in effect until Oct. 3 in Baguio City and the Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay.
    In meeting here last week, mayors of these areas jointly issued an advisory limiting movement of people and the entry of non-residents for non-essential travel as this city and Benguet province are placed under Alert Level 4.
    During the meeting Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said from an average of five to six travelers out of 700 undergoing triage testing positive, the number rose to 12 to 15 for every 300 travelers this month. 
    He added Baguio City now has an average of 254 cases and eight deaths per day, compared to only 25-32 cases per day in August. 
    The municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay also reported high numbers of cases and deaths despite their relatively small populations, and noted that transmission is more rapid with the Delta variant.
    Baguio reported 411 new Covid-19 cases last Sept. 18, the highest single-day rally, bringing the total active cases to 3,053, the Dept. of Health in the region said.  
    The figure was the highest after the Sept. 11 single-day record of 289 since the start of the pandemic in 2020. 
Benguet recorded 15 deaths related to Covid-19 on Monday (Sept. 20), its highest since the pandemic struck last year.
    According to the provincial health office, the latest fatalities raised to 402 the province’s Covid-19 death toll.
Benguet also registered 337 new infections on Monday, pushing to 14, 268 its total Covid-19 cases.
    The province has 2,674 active cases and 11,192 recoveries. According to the provincial health office, the latest fatalities raised to 402 the province’s Covid-19 death toll.
    Benguet also registered 337 new infections on Monday, pushing to 14, 268 its total Covid-19 cases.
    So far, the province has 2,674 active cases and 11,192 recoveries.
    In a statement, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said the travel agreement was forged during a meeting of the mayors and representatives of the BLISTT areas.
    The suspension will run until Oct. 3.
    Palangdan said non-formal workers living in BLISTT areas need to secure a certificate of employment from their respective barangay officials starting Sept. 27.
    He said residents who need to travel between BLISTT localities to access essential goods or services are allowed provided they do this on designated schedules.
    According to the mayor, the protocol is part of the collective efforts of the people of BLISTT to prevent the virus from further spreading.
    This, as the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (PIATF-EID) ordered suspension of tourism, tourism-related activities, and mass gatherings to contain surge Covid-19 cases in the province.
    Gov. Melchor Diclas said the suspension of said activities will be until the end of the month of September pursuant to the general community quarantine status of the province based on latest classification of local governments handed down by the national IATF.
    He said municipal governments should not allow entry of residents and visitors in known tourist destinations during this period to restrict movement of people and contain spread of the virus.
    Residents traveling within and between the BLISTT are required to present documents showing that they are authorized persons outside residence (APORs) or are moving around for essential reasons.
    "Residents who wish to travel to access essential goods and services may do so on designated schedules that shall be provided by their respective local government units (LGUs)," the advisory read.
    Cargo, delivery and logistics services for essential or non-essential goods will continue.
    Meantime, persons 17 years old and below, senior citizens aged 65 and above, and immuno-compromised persons were urged to avoid unnecessary travel outside their homes, except for other purposes such as medical reasons.
    Travelers going in and out of Baguio City were also advised to pass Marcos Highway and avoid the Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual highway which is intended only for essential cargo.
    The advisory was agreed upon by the mayors in a meeting on Sept. 21 to protect residents and curb the spread of the disease.