BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is pushing to maintain some restrictions at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
With the expected resumption of commercial flights on June 15, Lacson intends to make an appeal to concern agencies to limit the commercial air traffic to sweeper flights.
“We will allow those who have already bought their tickets to take the sweeper flights,” he said.
On Monday, Lacson and Bacolod-Silay Airport Manager Percy Malonesio led the inspection of the installation of thermal scanners and swab-testing booths at the airport.
Commercial flights from Manila are expected to depart at 11 a.m. and arrive in Bacolod-Silay Airport around 12:30 p.m.
Passengers on the special flights will be paying for their own fare.
Locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City can also book for seats on a return flight, which will leave at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the airport is already ready for the resumption of commercial flights scheduled on June 15.
Diaz said sweeper flights for LSIs will serve as an “exercise,” which will be improved before the resumption of commercial flights.
He furthered that the province has already installed a thermal scanner at the airport terminal. It has complete parts and components like the monitor and an alarm system.
“If a passenger’s body temperature reaches 37.6 it will immediately alarm indicating that our personnel will remove him or her from the line for examination,” Diaz said.
After the thermal scanner, passengers will then proceed to the tourism booth where they will give their health cards that contain information for contact tracing. The next stop would be at the right side of the exit where the swab booth is located.
At least five medical technicians will be assigned for getting swab samples to be submitted to the provincial testing center at the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital.
“After the swabbing, passengers will the proceed far right and wait for the vehicle provided by the LGU (local government unit) that will pick them up going to their respective homes for self-quarantine,” Diaz added./PN
