By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson clarified yesterday the areas that would be placed on lockdown during the mass testing for Covid-19 as part of the “four-day weekend timeout” scheduled from August 28 to 31.

According to Lacson, Bacolod City will be the first to be placed on a two-day lockdown from August 28 to 29. The cities of Silay, Talisay, Bago, and the town of Murcia would be next from August 30 to 31.

During the said periods, 10,000 “symptomatic” individuals would undergo testing – 5,000 coming from Bacolod and another 5,000 from the remaining four local government units.

Lacson also stated the lockdown proposal will be subject to approval by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF).

If the NIATF doesn’t approve the lockdown, he said the mass testing will still continue and would depend on the available resources.

The governor pointed out since the province is under the modified general community quarantine, there won’t be similar lockdowns such as those implemented during the enhanced community quarantine, which is why they would need the approval of the NIATF.

Lacson said he and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will issue an executive order regarding the “four-day weekend timeout” once the NIATF approves their request./DGB, WDJ