BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has requested the National Inter-Agency Task Force for to suspend all travels – sea, air, and land – to Negros Occidental for two weeks.
Lacson, in a letter addressed to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and IATF co-chairperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles cited the increase in the number of CoViD-10 cases after the NIATF issued a memorandum order for uniform travel protocols that the provincial government adopted.
The uniform travel protocols included not requiring a negative RT-PCR test for travelers. Travelers are also not required to undergo quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms.
Lacson, in the letter to the NIATF, said “I believe that this is imperative in order to protect our constituents, our local economy and our future as a province. If I stand idly, I fear that our gains in the past year will be put to waste, to the detriment of our people.”
The formal request was accompanied by illustrations and figures showing that the introduction of the uniform travel protocol (Resolution No. 101) has resulted to an increased number of COVID-19 cases in the province.
