ILOILO City – Local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas are being enjoined to fully implement the uniform travel protocols for land, air and sea.
“To ensure the alignment of national and local policies in addressing the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, LGUs shall adopt the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) resolutions through the issuance of executive orders,” part of the Western Visayas Joint Task Force (WVJTF) Resolution No. 4-2021 read.
Under IATF Resolution No. 101, travelers are no longer required to undergo COVID-19 testing except if the local government unit (LGU) of destination orders such. Testing will be limited to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
Likewise, travelers would no longer be subjected to quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arrival.
The same resolution stated that the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (SPass) Travel Management System of the Department of Science and Technology and the StaySafe.Ph shall be utilized as primary contact tracing devices.
WV EXECS WANT TRAVELERS TO HAVE NEGATIVE RT-PCR
Yesterday, local chief executives of the region’s two highly urbanized cities and six provinces had a video conference and agreed to synchronize their protocols to protect the region, noting that COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila are increasing rapidly anew.
According to Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, they agreed on uniform protocols specifically for all passengers arriving in Western Visayas to have their negative RT-PCR result 72 hours prior to traveling.
Treñas said they have requested Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 director Juan Jovian Ingeniero to coordinate with the national IATF for clearance.
Meanwhile, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., said they also discussed the possibility that if the situation in Metro Manila would get worst, the region will move for the suspension of travel from there.
The governor added that he would make necessary adjustments on his executive order relative to the national IATF resolution if their agreed synchronized protocol in Western Visayas would be approved.
“Ang gwa ya sina ma-obligar man kita mag-adjust sang EO naton at least sa returning residents kay ti dira man lang kita nga wala nag-require…Ibutang lang naton ang effectivity nga nagakalaigu kag including APORs (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) kay wala na sila RT-PCR,” explained Defensor.
Defensor and Treñas said they will meet again on Friday afternoon to assess the situation./PN
