COVID-19 testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon, together with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson; Provincial Consultant Albee Benitez; Board Member Ryan Gamboa; Silay City Mayor Mark Golez; Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz; Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang; and Provincial Incident Management chief, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, led the COVID-19 Vaccination Launching for the province of Negros Occidental, held at Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City yesterday afternoon. (Provincial Government of Negros Occidental photos)
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will have a virtual meeting today with the 31 mayors of various towns and cities in the province in order to discuss several issues involving the uniform travel protocols issued under the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) Resolution No. 101.
According to Lacson, he wanted to maintain the current health screenings in the province’s main entry points as part of the campaign against COVID-19.
Lacson pointed out that they would still require those entering the province to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results, even if the NIATF specifically stated in its resolution that RT-PCR tests would no longer be necessary.
The governor explained that even though RT-PCR tests are no longer mandatory, the resolution had also given them the power to require testing prior to travel should it be necessary.
“March 15 we have to implement Resolution No. 101,” Lacson said. “I have called for a Zoom meeting with the mayors to inform them about this directive, but I will have to issue an executive order which would still require a negative RT-PCR test,” Lacson added.
Based on records released by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the number of active COVID-19 cases in the province drastically dropped to 53, but the cases suddenly jumped to 134, with majority of the cases traced to recent arrivals of locally stranded individuals and authorized persons outside of residence (APORS).
Earlier this month, Lacson commented on the NIATF’s protocols as somewhat “contradictory” and he wanted to maintain the province’s own protocols by testing and quarantining travelers when they arrive in Negros Occidental.
Under NIATF Resolution No. 101, travelers will no longer be compelled to go on quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arriving at their destination.
Travelers are also no longer required to secure travel authorities or health certificates.
APORS from national government agencies and their attached agencies, on the other hand, must provide their identification card, travel order, and travel itinerary.
They must likewise pass symptom-screening at the ports of entry and exit./DGB, WDJ