BACOLOD City – This city has indefinitely prohibited the entry of leisure travelers from Panay Island starting Monday as part of the border control measures against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Delta variant.
This directive was stated in the executive order (EO) 39-A series of 2021, amending EO 39, issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Sunday night.
“Regional health authorities in Region 6 (Western Visayas) have issued public warnings and information that two cases, which tested positive with the Delta variant, have already been found in one locality in Panay Island,” Leonardia said.
“(T)o adequately protect the people of Bacolod from the deadlier effect of the Delta variant, it is imperative to review and amend certain provisions of EO 39,” he added.
Under the new directive, Bacolod residents should present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test result (RT-PCR) test result obtained within 72 hours prior and upon arrival here, among other usual documents required.
Only authorized persons outside residence (APORs) are allowed to travel from Panay into or out of Bacolod.
Travel of non-APORs from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ areas in Panay to Bacolod is prohibited.
The city and province of Iloilo have been placed under ECQ until the end of the month, while Bacolod, Aklan, and Capiz are under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” from July 16 to 22. Negros Occidental, Antique, and Guimaras are under general community quarantine (GCQ) only.
Entry of those from GCQ and modified GCQ areas in Panay may be allowed provided they present a negative RT-PCR test result obtained within 72 hours before and upon arrival; online Bacolod City COVID-19 Contact Tracing or BaCTrac registration; online health declaration; Safe, Swift and Smart Passage; travel coordination permit; and valid personal identification card.
Meanwhile, the movement of all types of goods and cargoes between Panay and Bacolod remains unhampered.(PNA/PN)
