Surigao del Sur eases border control to allow economy to recover —governor

The province of Surigao del Sur has relaxed its border controls  to allow its economy to recover, Governor Alexander Pimentel said Thursday.

"'Yung border control namin ni-relax ko na kasi sabi nga ng Presidente Duterte naman kailangan na rin nating buksan ang ekonomiya, dinesmantle na namin lahat ng border checkpoints," Pimentel said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

He said local officials in the province have been strict whenever returning residents and overseas Filipino workers arrive.

"Kapag may dumadating, alerto naman 'yung frontliner natin, 'yung barangay officials, mayors, kapag may bagong pumasok. Inaalam kaagad at tinitingnan kung tamang protocol, lalo na ang OFWs," Pimentel said.

Surigao del Sur has so far recorded 65 deaths in the province due to COVID-19 since March 2020.

At present, Pimentel said the local government is preparing its vaccination program and checking the cold storage facilities for the COVID-19 vaccines.

"Dalawa lang rito ang ice plant. Tinitignan namin kung kaya ba nila," he said. —KBK, GMA News