BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Several mayors in Negros Occidental opposed calls for less restrictive travel protocols.
Bacolod City’s Mayor Evelio Leonardia requested Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to not anymore require inbound travelers to undergo reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and submit a result clearing them of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Cadiz City’s Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said he will only agree to Leonardia’s proposal if the Bacolod City government would look after its town COVID-19 cases
Some of Bacolod City’s COVID-positive cases are being sent to the Cadiz District Hospital and Cadiz Healing Center.
“Our healthcare program in Cadiz is being overwhelmed (by cases, some of which were from Bacolod City),” Escalante said.
He then echoed the suggestion of Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz that the city government of Bacolod assist the provincial government in shouldering the cost of RT-PCR tests.
“Safety first,” stressed Toboso town’s Mayor Richard Jaojoco.
The province should in fact lean more towards additional safeguards, he said.
Kabankalan City ‘sMayor Pedro Zayco did not outright oppose Leonardia’s proposal but said he would respect Lacson’s decision, whatever it may be.
“I believe in the wisdom of the governor and I also believe that what he is doing is for the best interest of Negros Occidental,” Zayco added.
Lacson and Leonardia are expected to hold a virtual meeting today, Jan. 28 to harmonizing the travel protocols of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
Thirty-one city and municipal mayors are expected to join the virtual meeting.
Lacson already consulted the Provincial Incident Management Team, and representatives from the province’s medical sector and they all recommended that the province should continue with the strict travel protocols on travelers originating from areas under Alert Level 3.
Mayor Leonardia suggested less cumbersome antigen test for inbound travelers instead of the more expensive and cumbersome RT-PCR test./PN
