The Sangguniang Panlungsod is urging the national Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow Bacolod to require inbound Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) to submit negative RT-PCR test results prior to arrival in the city.
The appeal is contained in a resolution authored by Councilor Renecito Novero that was approved by the SP Wednesday, January 12.
The current surge in COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region with the advent of the Omicron variant forebodes grim possibilities of widespread transmission nationwide, including in Bacolod, Novero said in the resolution.
Under the current NIATF policy government, APORs are exempted from the negative RT-PCR test result requirement for travel.
Novero said the city government wants to implement a “no exemption policy”.
The SP also approved a resolution urging the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to renew the assignments of their augmentation personnel assisting Bacolod City in the fight against COVID-19.
A resolution urging the prompt renewal of the contract of services of local health workers assisting the city government combat COVID-19 was also approved.
Both resolutions were authored by Novero.*