ILOILO City – If you are a returning resident, returning overseas Filipino worker, an authorized person outside residence (APOR), or just a traveler bound for Western Visayas, take note: a negative result of your reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test 72 hours prior to travel is a must.
Local chief executives in the region came to this resolve after a video conference yesterday, together with Interior undersecretary Epimaco Densing and the region’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
According to Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, the policy would take effect today, March 20 (for Iloilo City and province) up to April 10, 2021 “unless sooner revoked by the local government units (LGUs) if the circumstances warrant.”
Other provinces and Bacolod City, however, have yet to announce the effectivity of this policy.
To recall, the LCEs had a meeting Friday last week and initially decided to require travelers entering the region to present a negative RT-PCR result. This was in response to the continuing surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Metro Manila.
They were being enjoined to fully implement uniform travel protocols for land, air and sea earlier set by the IATF.
“To ensure the alignment of national and local policies in addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, LGUs shall adopt the IATF 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 unless the LGU of destination orders such. Testing will be limited to 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 (S-Pass) Travel Management System of the Department of Science and Technology and the StaySafe.Ph shall be utilized as primary contact tracing devices.
‘ECQ MODE’
On the other hand, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. warned those who have been complacent in observing minimum health protocols such as washing of hands, social distancing and wearing of facemasks and face shields.
“Dapat daw ECQ mode kita sa pag-andam,” he stressed, referring to the time when the province was under enhanced community quarantine.
“Para mabalik sa consciousness sang tawo subong. Ibalik naton sa pinsar sang tawo nga ara pa ang problema sa aton, that’s why we are doing this right now,” Defensor added.
The province is girding for a possible spike in COVID-19 cases.
“Naga preparar kita nga kon pananglitan magsaka ang COVID-19 pareho sang level sang iban nga LGUs preprado kita although wala pa kita sina nga level,” the governor said, as he convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council yesterday./PN
