BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental is implementing stricter travel protocols for inbound travelers to mitigate the threat posed by the variants of the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Yesterday, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order (EO) No. 21-38, Series of 2021 requiring inbound travelers to secure a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result not more than 72 hours prior to travel.
They must also secure an electronic or printed copy of the Approved Travel Coordination Permit via the S-PaSS (Safe, Swift & Smart Passage) system and register in the StaySafe.ph application for contact tracing.
The EO added that travelers who do not comply with the requirements shall be denied entry into the province.
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the proposal presented by airline companies to start introducing flights for vaccinated individuals has been put on hold until the threat of the Delta variant is addressed.
“It’s inching closer and closer to the province,” Diaz said. “As much as possible we don’t want it to enter, or if it does enter we must immediately isolate it.”
He also said there should be no splitting of classifications between locally stranded individuals (LSIs) or authorized persons outside of residence (APORs), pointing out APORs should also be included in presenting travel requirements.
“They’re not immune to the virus, there should be no splitting of classifications,” Diaz stressed./PN
