THE operations of fastcrafts plying Bacolod to Iloilo and vice versa were temporarily stopped since August 2 due to meager passengers.

Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express, said they only have seven passengers last August 1, so they are forced to stop their operation like other fastcrafts.

He said while Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has allowed travelers from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental to enter Iloilo City without the negative RT-PCR test result, Bacolod City has been strict in implementing the said protocols for arriving travelers.

"Those who would like to go to Bacolod City are barred to enter the port without the negative RT-PCR test result. Swab test is expensive at P3,800 per Red Cross rate for travelers within the region for those who used to visit relatives every weekend and for those who are working in the two provinces," Carbon said.

Even to businessmen and farmers who transport their products and goods, it is also costly, he added.

Carbon said this is the reason why they appealed to the City Government of Bacolod to reimpose the "swab and go" strategy, where travelers are swabbed upon arrival at the Bredco Port and then they are allowed to go home provided they would practice self-restrictions until their swab results are out.

Carbon said they have made the same appeal to the local Inter-Agency Task Force to consider their position because fastcraft operations stoppage greatly affects the economy of the city and the province.