EMERGENCY Operations Center–Task Force Executive Director Em Legaspi-Ang clarified anew Sunday, November 21, 2021, that the S-Pass is no longer required for fully vaccinated Bacolod-bound passengers traveling by land, sea or air.

Ang reminded port managers to follow the guidelines set by Executive Order No. 53 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia that allows travel into Bacolod City without the need for an S-Pass since the local government was placed under Alert Level 2 beginning November 15 until 30.

In her Facebook page post, Ang reiterated that all fully vaccinated passengers only need to present their vaccination cards when traveling to Bacolod.

The S-Pass, or online travel management system created by the Department of Science and Technology used for domestic travel amidst the Covid-19, is no longer required, she said.

“Fully-vaccinated Filipinos with negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results taken within 72 hours prior to their departure from green countries or jurisdictions are not required to undergo facility-based quarantine or take another test,” Ang's answer to a question on quarantine protocols upon a passenger's arrival in Manila.

Leonardia issued EO No. 53 on November 14 after Bacolod City was downgraded from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 2 by the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in terms of Covid-19 transmission.

Under EO 53, intra-zonal and inter-zonal travel into and out of Bacolod shall be allowed subject to the presentation of the vaccination card of the traveler issued by their local government unit of origin, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine or any government agency, national or international, duly authorized to issue such credentials.

On the other hand, travelers who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 shall be required to present a negative RT-PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival in Bacolod City. (PR)