NEGROS OCCIDENTAL AWAITS TOURISTS’ RETURN
BACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental will join other key Visayan provinces that have reopened their doors to domestic tourism.
But unlike Cebu province, Negros Occidental will still require tourists to present negative COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result, issued 72 hours prior to travel, when visitors are allowed back starting on March 15, said Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
Tourists also have to present an “S-Pass” approval and “Stay Safe” registration form, both issued by the provincial government prior to travel, which will be used for contact tracing since these contain information such as names of the visitors, travel itineraries and their final destinations.
“If you don’t have the requirements, you will not be allowed to board the ship or you will not be allowed to board your flight (bound for Negros Occidental),” Diaz said.
Excited for summer
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is set to issue an executive order introducing a uniform travel protocols for the province in response to Resolution No. 101 issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases that eliminated the requirement for quarantine, medical certificate and travel authority.
The need for RT-PCR test will depend on the local government where the traveler is heading.
“The whole of Negros Occidental can now accept tourists. The local governments and businesses are excited with summer approaching. We are doing it cautiously and slowly,” said Diaz.
Starting Monday, private and public vehicles can transport passengers to and from the Bacolod Silay Airport since vehicles of local governments will no longer pick up arriving passengers.
However, Diaz said there should be no overcrowding at the airport terminals while tourist destinations must observe all health protocols, which include accommodating only 50 percent of their capacity, to prevent the spread of virus.