Bus operations between Negros Occidental and Oriental are still not allowed despite both provinces having been placed under COVID-19 Alert Level 2, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday morning, November 16.
Diaz said he met with the Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) representatives on Monday and they are waiting for the executive order of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo on cross border travel.
A resolution of the Negros Oriental Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the request of VTI to resume operations covering the Dumaguete City-Bacolod City and San Carlos Mabinay routes provided health and safety protocols are strictly enforced.
The resolution dated November 15 was posted on the VTI Facebook page Tuesday night.
Diaz could not be reached for comment on the Negros Oriental IATF resolution.
They are working on both provinces having the same rules, where in fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to freely travel between the two provinces, while the unvaccinated will be required to present negative RT-PCR test results, Diaz said Tuesday morning.
The manifest of their passengers should be submitted to the province so their S-PaSS (Safe, Swift and Smart Passage) can be approved, Diaz said.
VTI is going for 70 percent passenger capacity on its buses, which seats have been retrofitted, Diaz added.
VTI should also provide the provincial government with its bus schedules, he said.*