Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in an executive order (EO) he issued yesterday, said the city will instead require an online BaCTrac registration and vaccination card for travelers who had been fully vaccinated and/or have received a booster dose.
For those who remain unvaccinated or have received only the first dose, they shall present at their ports of origin and destination a negative result under rapid antigen test (RAT) certified by the Department of Health (DOH)-accredited laboratory taken within 24 hours before traveling, Leonardia said.
Travelers are also required to present identification cards, must pass a symptom screening at the port/s of entry upon arrival in Bacolod City and above all, must strictly comply with existing minimum public health standards being implemented in the locality, he also said.
Meanwhile, all government officials/public sector personnel on official business shall be allowed unimpeded travel into Bacolod City from any area regardless of the Alert Level status of Covid-19 transmission.
The mayor said they will be asked to present a valid ID issued by their respective government agency, vaccination card if fully vaccinated or with booster shots while unvaccinated ones or those who are partially inoculated should present a RAT result taken 24 hours before their travel to Bacolod.
Aside from that, they will also present an original/certified true copy of their travel order/authority issued by the head of their agency or by his/her authorized superior, the EO stated.
In lieu of the travel order/authority, a certification from any head of office/agency that such officials/ employees are assigned/appointed/designated to report in a particular public office in Bacolod City may also suffice, it added.
Like other travelers, they must also pass a symptom screening at the airport or seaport upon arrival and should adhere to the existing minimum public health standards, Leonardia stressed.
He said that the city government may refuse the entry of any person/individual entering the port/s of Bacolod City or its area of jurisdiction for reasons such as his/her failure to comply with the travel requirements.
Leonardia warned that those who present falsified/fake or tampered documents, such as the vaccination cards or laboratory certifications on RAT results, shall be denied entry and shall be liable for prosecution under the law.
The Bacolod City police is directed to cooperate and assist the city government in implementing the health and safety protocols embodied in the EO, which may include the apprehension and prosecution of any person violating any provision of this Executive Order or those penalized under existing laws such as, but not limited to, falsification of document/s and use of fictitious name among others.*