BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) 51, imposing requirements for authorized persons outside residence (Apors) entering the city.
Leonardia, who signed the EO on August 1, said the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Shield has categorized Apors as individuals allowed to travel to other local government units during community quarantine without need of travel authority.
He said there have been several Apors in the City of Bacolod who tested positive for coronavirus in the recent days and they are considered as among the possible causes for the local transmission in the city.
"The City of Bacolod must take necessary action to curtail the rising infections through local transmission by regulating the entry of Apors through additional health and safety protocols," he added.
The EO states that all Apors coming from areas outside of Western Visayas are allowed entry into the city without undergoing a 14-day quarantine, after they present government-issued identification card, IATF or Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) ID, or valid company ID or in the absence of the latter, a certificate of employment; certificate of work schedule issue by their supervising officers; travel order for government officials and personnel, or proof of engagement of their services, or mission order for military and police personnel; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Covid-19 negative test result released within three days prior to their entry into the City of Bacolod; and return ticket showing the date and time of departure from the City of Bacolod.
The Apors shall comply with the usual health screening procedures and fill out health declaration forms upon arrival, and the delivery personnel of essential goods and cargoes origination from outside Western Visayas shall also be required to present RT-PCR Covid-19 negative result, which shall be considered valid within 14 days from release date thereof.
The RT-PCR Covid-19 tests for Apors from the private sector shall be shouldered by them or by their employers. Government officials or personnel of various government agencies are also exempted to present a negative RT-PCR test result upon entry into the City of Bacolod.
Any Apor who fails to comply with the foregoing shall be denied entry into the City of Bacolod.
Leonardia said as circumstances change during this Covid-19 pandemic, the foregoing rules and requirements may be subject to review and amendment at any time.