BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Vaccinated individuals bound for Negros Occidental are still required to register and secure a permit from the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) travel and mobility management system, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
S-PaSS is a paperless application launched by the Department of Science and Technology offering a convenient and safe way to process travel authority online for local travellers.
It helps local government units record and monitor in real-time travellers’ information or those going in and out of their respective localities.
On the other hand, Diaz said, instead of the 72-hour negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result required for unvaccinated travelers, those who are already considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after receiving their second dose will just be required to present their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination cards.
Vaccinated individuals including senior citizens will also no longer be required to undergo swab tests upon arrival in the province’s port of entry.
Although voluntary, inbound travelers were previously encouraged to undergo swab testing as well as quarantine while waiting for their test result.
Diaz also commented that they fully back the decision of the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) for vaccinated individuals, pointing out that the chances of vaccinated individuals becoming carriers of COVID-19 would be greatly minimized.
“This is sanctioned by the NIATF. Wuld be happy to abide by their new resolution,” Diaz said.
At present, Diaz said, they have only managed to vaccinate at least five percent of the target population.
To achieve herd immunity, the provincial government is targeting to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the province’s total population. (With a report from PNA/PN)
