BACOLOD City – Residents of Negros Occidental were reminded to take extra precautions when going to tourist areas during the holiday break this Holy Week.
Yesterday, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will not discourage Negrenses from visiting tourist destinations because the provincial government was also promoting local tourism. However, those going out have to be cautious and still adhere to minimum health protocols.
“I think they just have to be extra careful, avoid crowded places. What we’re trying to do here is to avoid a drastic increase in positive individuals,” he added.
He said what the province also wants to avoid are tourists coming from Metro Manila and Cebu, which is reflected in his request waiting approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to impose a travel moratorium for all land, air, and sea travels to Negros Occidental for two weeks.
Lacson added that the latest joint Western Visayas Regional Task Force and Regional Inter-Agency Task Force advisory based on the IATF Resolution 104 “somehow addresses our letter-request”.
According to the advisory, only essential travelers from National Capital Region and its travel bubble circuit that includes Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal area, will be allowed to travel into and outside of Western Visayas from March 23 to April 4.
“It also tells us we have the same idea on how to control the spike of COVID-19 positive individuals,” the governor said, adding that he expects lesser trips and lesser people coming to the province because only essential individuals will be allowed to travel.(PNA)
