Travel is now made easier as Bacolod City no longer requires a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for inbound fully vaccinated travelers from any points of Western Visayas and Negros Oriental.

“Effective immediately and until further advice, any person/individual entering the port/s of Bacolod City/area of the city’s jurisdiction from areas within Region 6 and Negros Oriental are no longer required to present their negative RT-PCR test results,” stated Executive Order (EO) No. 3 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, which took effect starting Saturday, January 22, 2022.

However, online BaCTrac registration and vaccination card for those who had been fully vaccinated and/or have received a booster dose are required.

Meanwhile, for those who are still unvaccinated or have received only the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine series, they shall present at their ports of origin and destination a negative result under rapid antigen test (RAT) certified by the Department of Health-accredited laboratory that administered the RAT within 24 hours before boarding at their port of origin.

All inbound travelers should also show their valid personal ID.

Leonardia also said that while public health data shows that new variants of COVID-19 caused the recent spike in cases in several local government units in the country, and our alert level was elevated as a precautionary measure to protect the safety and health of the general public, Bacolod City needs to balance the scale between the health of the people and the socio-economic interactions of constituents that, among others, involve the transport of essential goods to and from the city.

“We must learn how to live with the virus and adjust to it accordingly and cautiously,” the city mayor added.

Bacolod City, which is under Alert Level 3 status until January 31, has recorded 182 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, January 22, bringing the total active cases in the city to 1,517./WDJ