NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has agreed to the request of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to hold a virtual meeting to discuss and harmonize the travel guidelines between the provincial and city governments.

In a letter to Leonardia dated Wednesday, January 26, the governor said the Provincial Government welcomes such development.

Lacson invited the mayor to a virtual meeting via Zoom on Friday, January 28, at 3 p.m., and it will also be attended by all city and municipal mayors in the province.

Aside from harmonizing the travel guidelines, Bacolod City's proposal to gain access to the Provincial One Hospital Command System will also be discussed during the meeting.

Leonardia earlier asked Lacson for a meeting to discuss areas of coordination between the city and provincial governments, including the need to harmonize their respective travel policies for home-bound constituents.

"We would greatly appreciate an opportunity to have a virtual meeting with you and your team at your earliest convenient time, to discuss how we can coordinate and harmonize our respective travel guidelines for the safety, ease and convenience of our constituents," Leonardia said in his letter to Lacson.

Lacson, in a phone interview Wednesday, January 26, confirmed that he is attending to the virtual talk.

The governor said he already consulted the Provincial Incident Management Team and representatives from the province's medical sector.

They all recommended that the province should continue with the strict travel protocols on travelers originating from areas under Alert Level 3, Lacson told reporters.

He acknowledged, however, that the Provincial Government is also seriously considering the letter forwarded by Leonardia, which calls for a less restrictive travel protocol and implement rapid antigen tests instead.