Locally stranded individuals returning to Bacolod City won’t need to undergo quarantine in city government facilities as long as they present negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results issued within 72 hours, or three days before travel, Councilor Cindy Rojas said today, January 17.
This was stipulated in Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s new executive order, which he signed on January 4 and was released on Friday, January 15.
Executive Order No. 1, series of 2021, or an order establishing the consolidated guidelines for travel into Bacolod, said there is a need for the city government to come up with proper guidelines on essential and non-essential travel into the City to ensure unhampered movement, while also maintaining public safety and health standards to control the spread and transmission of COVID-19.
The EO said that no person shall be allowed entry into the city without presenting a Notice of Coordination.
The documentary requirements for returning LSIs are:
- Negative result of RT-PCR test taken within three days before the date of travel
- Letter of coordination from the office of Councilor Cindy Rojas which may be requested through email at spmcindyrojas@yahoo.com. Coordination may be made through telephone number 034-4353607. LSIs coming from Cebu may contact Leshi Kojima at 0905-2238081
- Joint Task Force COVID-19 shield travel authority such as medical certificate, barangay clearance from local government unit of origin
- Bacolod City COVID-19 Contact Tracing System (BaCTrac) Identification card
- Online health declaration form
Rojas, chairperson of the action team for returning residents, stressed that only returning LSIs with negative RT-PCR results within 72 hours of travel will be allowed to come home, where they will still undergo a 10-day home quarantine.
Those with negative RT-PCR results issued more than 72 hours before travel will be swabbed upon arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport and will be placed under quarantine in city facilities.
Requirements for non-essential travel such as leisure and vacation to Bacolod include:
- Negative RT – PCR results, which must be taken within three days before the date of travel
- Travel itinerary for the duration of stay in Bacolod City or the first 10 days
- Joint Task Force COVID-19 shield travel authority such as medical certificate, barangay clearance from LGU of origin
- Confirmed booking of accommodation in Bacolod City
- Roundtrip ticket/travel details
- BaCTrac Identification card
- Online health declaration form
Documentary requirements for returning residents arriving from countries with travel restrictions due to new COVID–19 strain include:
- Negative result of RT-PCR test taken within three days before the date of travel
- Certificate of completion of the mandatory 14-day quarantine in Manila
- Additional seven days home quarantine upon arrival in Bacolod City
- BaCTrac Identification card
- Online Health Declaration Form
The same documentary requirements will also be required on returning overseas Filipino workers and returning Filipinos originating from countries identified by the World Health Organization or the Philippine government with “second wave” due to the recent COVID-19 spike.
Upon arrival, these persons must report to the receiving barangay for monitoring purposes.
Private authorized persons outside residence (APORs), non-essential travelers and LSIs must observe home/self- quarantine within 10 days from arrival and should be released from such quarantine upon certification by a licensed medical doctor of his/her completion of the quarantine period, the EO stressed.
“If any of the symptoms manifest within the said period, he/she shall undergo an RT-PCR test and further submit himself/herself to self-quarantine until the results are released,” it added.
Persons travelling in transit through Bacolod City, except APORs, will not be allowed to go out of the seaport/airport, and are required to present a subsequent ticket for their intended destination, the EO said.
The city will also recognize and permit the travel of APORs to Bacolod City either by transit or to transact business provided that health and safety protocols are observed.
Any violation of the EO will be penalized under pertinent ordinances providing for penalties, it said.*