BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
The mayors of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City yesterday agreed to fly the Philippine flag at half-mast from August 15 to 31 in support and sympathy to all health care workers, frontliners and those who have succumbed to COVID-19, Victorias Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Association of Chief Executives in Negros Occidental president, said.
The resolution to fly the Philippine flag at half-mast was in response to the call of Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and former Rep. Alfredo Benitez.
“The mayors also agreed to work as one in the fight against COVID-19 and heal as one,” Palanca said.
They also passed a resolution agreeing to the proposal submitted by infectious disease doctors to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson that a second COVID-19 test is not necessary if a person that is initially tested positive, remains asymptomatic for 14 days thereafter.
The mayors also expressed the opinion that placing a barrier between a motorcycle driver and his passenger could be unsafe and will convey this to the proper authorities, he said.
They also agreed that Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) who enter the province with cargo must have negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test results valid for 14 days to keep Negros safe from COVID-19, Palanca said.
He said it was noted that APOR vehicles also enable stowaways to enter the province so all must be checked and have identification cards.*