BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered stricter policies on travelers entering the ports of Bacolod City or areas of the city’s jurisdiction from areas under Alert Level 3 or higher starting Sunday.
This covers individuals who may be fully vaccinated, have undergone booster dose, are partially vaccinated, or those who remain unvaccinated.
Executive Order No. 1 series of 2022 provides that effective January 9, any person/individual entering the port/s of Bacolod City from areas under Alert Level 3 or higher are required to present a negative RT-PCR test result which must have been obtained within 72 hours prior to and upon arrival in Bacolod City (for all in-bound travelers regardless of vaccination status); online BaCTrac registration; SPass; vaccination card (if fully or partially vaccinated, including those who have undergone a booster dose); and valid personal ID.
All government officials/public sector personnel on official business will be allowed unimpeded travel into Bacolod City from any area regardless of its Alert Level status, provided that they comply with the vaccination mandate under National IATF Resolution No. 148-B, series of 2021, dated November 11, 2021, and their further compliance with the following pre-requisites: presentation of valid ID issued by their respective government agencies; presentation of their vaccination card/ID showing when they were fully vaccinated and/or have undergone booster dose; presentation of an original/ certified true copy of their travel order/authority issued by the head of their agency/ authorized superior; they must pass a symptom screening at the airport or seaport upon arrival; and they must strictly comply with existing minimum public health standards.
The order said the city government may refuse the entry of any person entering the port/s of Bacolod City or its area of jurisdiction for reasons such as his/her failure to comply with the travel requirements provided in Section 1 and 2 of the order, as well as those who exhibit general symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival and/or those who refuse to follow the established testing and quarantine protocols, for which the city government may invoke its police powers as an autonomous local government.
Likewise, those who present falsified/fake or tampered documents such as RT-PCR test results and/or vaccination cards, will be denied entry and will be liable for prosecution under the law.
The mayor also ordered the local police to cooperate and assist the city government in implementing the health and safety protocols embodied in this Executive Order, which may include the apprehension and prosecution of any person violating any provision of the order or those penalized under existing laws such as, but not limited to, falsification of documents/s, use of fictitious name, and the like.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City remains under Alert Level 2.*
