By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday issued an executive order (EO) requiring travelers coming from areas under Alert Level 3 including those who are already fully vaccinated to present a negative RT-PCR test result.

Lacson said the EO No. 21-61-A states that the negative swab test result should not be later than 72 hours prior to the issuance of their S-PaSS permit, and must be conducted and issued by a Department of Health-accredited molecular laboratory.

He pointed out that the fully vaccinated could still get infected with COVID-19 especially with the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

The EO also stated that air travel between Negros Occidental and areas classified under Alert Level 3 is restricted and shall be subjected to the following guidelines: one flight per airline company per day for Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights, but airline companies may avail of one additional inbound Manila-Bacolod cargo-only flight and one additional outbound Bacolod-Manila passenger flight per day; and one flight per airline company per day for Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu flights.

For sea travel between the province and areas under Alert Level 3, sea vessels shall be allowed to admit passengers up to 50% of its passenger capacity limit.

Earlier this week, Lacson warned that he will reimpose travel restrictions if the number of new COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila will not be contained.

Among the areas that are currently under Alert Level 3 are the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna.

Negros Occidental, meanwhile, is still under Alert Level 2./DGB, WDJ