By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has voiced out his opposition to fast craft operators’ proposal to enforce a “no vaccination, no travel” policy, stating that all inbound travelers will still be required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result.

According to Lacson, he prefers a safer approach, pointing out the negative RT-PCR test result is being followed by other provinces, too.

He further stated that he has not received a formal request coming from fast craft operators as well as the business sector.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas posted on the city government’s official social media page stating he is in favor of the proposed “no vaccination, no travel” policy.

“If submitted to me, I will approve it so as not to make travel difficult for our constituents,” Treñas said.

Earlier on Friday, January 14, Carbon proposed replacing the current negative RT-PCR test result requirement with the “no vaccination, no travel” policy.

He pointed out since Iloilo City, Bacolod City, and the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental are now under an Alert Level 3, there shouldn’t be anymore travel restriction.

He even used the example of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., wherein the Iloilo provincial government is not requiring a negative RT-PCR test result from travelers arriving at the Dumangas Port from Bacolod City.

Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, meanwhile, said the proposal needs a careful review, pointing out they want to monitor the city’s COVID-19 situation first for at least two weeks, and if they notice a drop in new COVID-19 cases, then they will approve Carbon’s proposal./DGB, WDJ