BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The city of Sipalay in Negros Occidental is reopening its doors to tourists beginning Nov. 6.
Under Executive Order No. 48 of Mayor Maria Gina Lizares, accommodation establishments, resorts and other leisure destinations in the city will be permitted to accept local residents as well as non-resident tourists.
However, they should have no history of travel outside of the province 30 days prior to their stay. They are likewise required to file a health declaration form upon check-in.
Foreign tourists, on the other hand, must be in the province or in Bacolod City before Oct. 1.
Registration to the Sipalay City Tourism Online Form through tinyurl.com/Sipalay is also mandatory for non-resident tourists.
They are required to upload a copy of any government-issued identification cards and booking confirmation from their chosen accommodation establishment and show their email confirmation from the City Tourism Office upon arrival at the border checkpoint.
They are also required to secure a negative rapid nasal antigen test result for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) processed by a Department of Health-accredited testing center for the Sipalay City Health Office on the day of their travel.
Negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results will also be honored, provided the result was released within five days from the date of swabbing.
Foreign tourists with negative test results but are showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be barred from entering the city.
Meanwhile, visiting relatives from other towns and cities in the province, including Bacolod City, are also allowed to enter and have an overnight stay, provided they coordinate with the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERTS).
During their stay, BHERTS will monitor the visitors’ health status.
Mass gatherings are also allowed in the city, although it would be strictly limited to 50 percent of the venue capacity only.
All establishments in the city are also ordered to close every Sunday for decontamination with the exception of pharmacies, water stations, couriers, and bakeries.
Lizares added that all residents and tourists are also required to observe the city’s 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew everyday./PN
