BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson agreed to harmonize the travel protocols of this city and Negros Occidental province.
Effective tomorrow, Feb. 1, all Bacolod City-bound travelers from Metro Manila will no longer be required negative results of reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests upon arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
They will instead be asked negative results of their rapid antigen tests taken in Department of Health-accredited clinics or laboratories not over 48 hours prior to their scheduled flight.
Other inbound travelers from outside Western Visayas and Negros Oriental will also be required to present negative rapid antigen test results regardless of vaccination status.
Leonardia had a virtual meeting with Lacson Friday last week. It was also attended by 31 other city and town mayors in Negros Occidental.
There were initial doubts on the reliability of rapid antigen tests. But these were quickly quashed.
La Carlota City’s Mayor Rex Jalandoon, a doctor by profession, assured them that the rapid antigen test now has a high accuracy rate and is therefore a reliable alternative to RT-PCR test.
Meanwhile, all Negros-bound travelers will be entitled to free rapid antigen tests upon arrival as a requirement to enter the province.
Lacson said the agreement of the parties is subject to adjustments based on new Inter-Agency Task Force resolutions.
He also said the provincial government is willing to conduct antigen tests for Bacolod-bound travelers.
Last week, several mayors in Negros Occidental opposed calls for less restrictive travel protocols.
Cadiz City’s Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. had said he would 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 were being sent to the Cadiz District Hospital and Cadiz Healing Center.
“Safety first,” stressed Toboso town’s Mayor Richard Jaojoco.
The province should in fact lean more towards additional safeguards, he said.
Kabankalan City’s Mayor 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./PN
