By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will write a letter to the national Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) requesting for a two-week suspension of inbound flights from Metro Manila to the Bacolod-Silay Airport due to a recent sudden surge of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region.

According to Lacson, he had also discussed the matter with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

Yesterday, the NIATF denied the request of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor to temporarily stop its flight operations due to the surging number of COVID-19 cases.

Treñas confirmed the information after talking to NIATF chief implementer Carlito Galvez.

In Negros Occidental, Lacson issued EO 21-18 last week requiring travelers bound to the province to present a negative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result not earlier than 72 hours before their travel.

Travelers should also register via the S-Pass system and download the StaySafe.PH app.

Lacson said the provincial government will also offer voluntary swabbing and quarantine at the airport and seaports.

Inbound passengers shall no longer be required to undergo facility quarantine but instead be required to undergo a seven day home quarantine upon arrival./DGB, WDJ