There is no resumption yet of Ceres bus operations between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, an official said yesterday, October 26.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II said the condition is not yet conducive to do away with the border restrictions between Negros provinces.
Negros Oriental is still under Alert Level 4, or high risk, in so far as coronavirus disease (Covid-19) transmission is concerned while Negros Occidental is already classified as Alert Level 2 or low risk.
“We hope the situation in Negros Oriental will soon improve, we will resume normal transportation within the island once it is safe,” Diaz said.
Based on the report issued by the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force in Negros Oriental on Monday, October 25, there’s a total of 855 new Covid-19 cases in the province in a day.
In Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, there are 229 new cases on Monday followed by the town of Sibulan with 72, Bayawan City with 70, and Canlaon City with 47.
Diaz said they recently conducted a meeting with the Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) to discuss Negros Oriental’s present surge in Covid-19 cases.
Based on their assessment during the meeting that was also attended by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, there is more risk on the part of Negros Occidental in case the lanes of transportation between the two provinces are opened.
He claimed that it is counter-productive for Negros Occidental’s campaign against Covid-19 if they allow unimpeded or unchecked travel between the two provinces.
However, the provincial administrator explained that they are currently looking for a solution especially that Negros Occidental is already open for all fully-vaccinated individuals.
At present, only private vehicles are allowed to travel between the two provinces, and travelers are required to register via the S-Pass system.
Authorities are strictly checking every vehicle entering the province to ensure that the passengers are indeed registered with the S-Pass before they are allowed entry.
Diaz said they will meet again with Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI), operator of the Ceres buses, once the conditions are already conducive for the reopening of public transportation between the provinces.
“We are still waiting for them (VTI) to reply with all the things we have requested (from them to comply), as we said earlier we need to have same travel protocols,” Diaz added.
Since last week, the provincial government was already in talks with VTI, who proposed to resume bus travel between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.