BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Bound for Negros Occidental? If you’re fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), you need not secure a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental yesterday announced it will start easing travel restrictions this month for fully vaccinated individuals.
According to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, fully vaccinated individuals with authenticated Quick Response (QR) identification cards are allowed to enter the province without an RT-PCR test result.
The travel protocol has already been approved by the National Inter-Agency Task Force, according to Diaz.
Citing an executive order issued by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Diaz said travelers would still be required to register via the S-PaSS system. They would be given the option to either post their negative RT-PCR test result or their vaccination card.
All the vaccination cards should be reflected in the provincial Management Information System or the vaccination portal of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
“We want to accept people who are fully vaccinated with authenticated cards to avoid the proliferation of fake vaccination cards,” Diaz explained.
Provincial officials previously expressed concern that vaccination cards can easily be faked.
“The vaccination cards are easy to forge, that’s why you need to have a QR-coded ID to avail yourself of the privilege of not presenting a negative RT-PCR test result,” Diaz said.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran of this city said Mayor Evelio Leonardia was crafting an executive order easing travel requirements for Bacolod-bound travelers.
Familiaran pointed out among the proposals was to no longer require a negative RT-PCR test for fully vaccinated individuals.
He further added the easing of travel restrictions would further open up Bacolod’s economy.
In response to the latest easing of travel restrictions in the province, Cebu Pacific Air announced that they will gradually start returning regular passenger flights between Manila-Bacolod, and Cebu-Bacolod routes.
In an online press conference last week, the airline announced that it will gradually increase its flight frequencies depending on the current COVID-19 situation in the country.
Travelers heading to Negros Occidental (except Bacolod City) are only required to secure a travel coordination permit via the S-PaSS system, and complete registration to StaySafe.ph./PN
