Negros Occidental gubernatorial candidate Juan “John” N. Orola called the delay in granting Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) permission to resume operations between Negros Oriental and Occidental “justice delayed, justice denied”.
On Tuesday, November 16, Gov. Roel Degamo issued Executive Order No. 44 adopting the guidelines on COVID-19 severity classification and management and other localized innovations in the province of Negros Oriental and Executive Order No. 45 adopting the guidelines for areas under Alert Level 2 for the COVID-19 Response in the province of Negros Oriental, Orola said in a press release Thursday, November 18.
Recently, the provincial government of Negros Occidental made a proclamation denying the request of VTI to resume its operations between Negros Occidental to Negros Oriental and vice versa, Orola said.
“Although the governor shows caution but it requires an immediate executive decision to stabilize our economy and to show the business community that we are initiating efforts to revive and bolster our provincial economy.The national IATF covid protocols are already in place as mandated by law but why is there still a need for more discussion?” Orola asked.
“The National Capital Region (NCR), also known as Metropolitan Manila and other provinces and cities under Alert Level 2 and 3 have adjusted to this development but the Negros Occidental leadership is still in the thinking process in consultation what action/s to take,” he said.
VTI was granted with a permit by Negros Oriental government to operate and has assured local government units concerned to faithfully comply with the standard health protocols, Orola said.
“Negros Occidental province said it would take almost a week to come out with a decision which means more losses to the province and VTI as well since for every day of delay it negates VTI of its responsibility to serve the riding public of its services as mandated by the law,” he added.
“This system of governance must be reviewed as it will affect the economic recovery program of the government. Let us now open our borders to travelers and businessmen but with due regards to our health protocols to be regularly monitored by the LGUs concerned,” Orola said.*