DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The border of Davao Region are ordered closed by the region’s newly formed Covid-19 Task Force for the next 14 days starting March 19 until April 1, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The task force, composed of the Regional Peace and Order Council and Regional Development Council, is led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, which aims to “implement a regionwide unified effort across LGUs to contain the COVID-19 infection.”

The Task Force released its guidelines Wednesday for the implementation of the lockdown in the entire Davao Region.

In its Order No. 2020-001, it stated that only vehicles with cargo and its driver are allowed to enter Davao Region. Cargo shall include goods and livestock. animals. Vehicle assistants must disembark from the vehicle and must stay at the border checkpoint for the vehicle to transact its business.

Duterte-Carpio explained in a radio interview that those who traveled out of Davao Region prior to the lockdown are advised to wait for the next 14 days before returning.

She also advised employees and workers outside Davao Region to stay inside Davao before the implementation of the lockdown.

The mayor also issued executive orders suspending both international and domestic flights coming in and out from Davao City for the said duration.

The Task Force deployed the 10th Infantry Battallion and the Police Regional Office XI to divide the areas of all highways in Davao Region and assign which unit should secure the area for the protection of people and cargo travelling on the highways.

Three persons under investigation (PUIs) in Davao Region reportedly died while still waiting for test results from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM), according to the latest report Department of Health (DOH) Davao Region on March 18.

Over 3,500 individulas in the region are placed under monitoring. Ken E. Cagula/davaotoday.com