Bacolod City – Fully-vaccinated inbound travelers from Alert Level 2 areas need not to present a negative result of either RT-PCR or antigen tests upon entry to the Negros Occidental.
This was contained in a memorandum order issued by Gov. Jose Lacson, who placed Negros Occidental under Alert Level 2, starting February 16 to 28.
Lacson said that fully vaccinated individuals will only be required to present an electronic or printed copy of the approved S-PaSS for interzonal and intrazonal travel in Negros Occidental, and a verifiable vaccination card or certificate.
However, partially and unvaccinated travelers are still required to present non-reactive antigen test result, 48 hours prior to travel, as well as approved S-PaSS.
Individuals caught with fake document requirements will be apprehended, be placed under quarantine for 14 days, and will shoulder expenses for the RT-PCR testing, the executive order issued by Lacson also said.
As to the airport operations guidelines, each airline company will be allowed to have two flights per day for Manila-Bacolod-Manila routes and one flight per airline company every week for Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu.
In addition, each airline company may avail of one additional inbound Manila to Bacolod cargo-only flight and one additional outbound Bacolod-Manila passenger flight per day.
The executive order also states that sea vessels shall be allowed to admit passengers up to 50 percent of its passenger capacity limit.
Asked to the possible increase of flights between Manila and Bacolod, as well Bacolod and Cebu, Lacson said that they are not yet discussing it, as of this time.
He also noted that COVID-19 active cases in Negros Occidental is down to double digits, compared to three digits in previous weeks.
COVID-19 active cases in Negros Occidental dropped to 1,990 as of Feb. 15, from its peak of 3,449 on Feb. 1.
Lacson said they are also considering the opening of the Provincial Capitol Lagoon to minors. *GPB
BACOLOD TRAVEL GUIDELINES
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 8 declaring Alert Level 2 in Bacolod City starting today until February 28 in compliance with the directive of the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (NAITF-MEID).
The order said that inbound travelers for Bacolod City coming from all areas of the Philippines regardless of alert level status are required to present the following travel documents before boarding for the last leg of their trip prior to arriving in any seaport/area of jurisdiction of Bacolod City or the Bacolod-Silay Airport, and upon arrival at the port of entry: BaCTrac ID; vaccination card for those who have been fully vaccinated and/or have received a booster dose.
However, for those who remain unvaccinated or have received only the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine series, they should present a negative result under Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) certified by the DOH-accredited laboratory that administered the RAT within 48 hours before boarding at their port of departure immediately before arriving in any port of entry in Bacolod, it said.
They must also pass a symptom screening at the port/s of entry upon arrival in Bacolod City; and must strictly comply with existing minimum public health standards.
The Bacolod LGU may however, randomly subject those travelers required to present the negative RAT result to another RAT upon their arrival at Bacolod port/s and/or airport (free-of-charge) to ensure the authenticity of the previously-undertaken RAT and for the purpose of assuring the safety of the general public.
All government officials/ public sector personnel on official business should be allowed unimpeded travel into Bacolod City from any area regardless of its alert status, provided that they comply with the protocols and to the vaccine mandate for personnel in the government service under NIATF Resolution No. 148-B, series of 2021, dated Nov. 11.
Daily curfew hours in Bacolod City should be observed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. under Alert Level 2 system. (Chrysee Samillano |Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star, photo courtesy by vp)
