NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, November 24, he hopes that Bacolod City officials will respect the province's decision to retain the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-Pass) requirement for travelers arriving at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City.
Lacson reiterated that the city has no jurisdiction over the regulations being imposed at the airport, and is asking the officials of the capital city to respect it.
Lacson stressed that they themselves do not interfere with the protocols being set at the Bredco and Banago Ports since the seaports arrival protocols are handled by the City Government.
"The Provincial Government never questioned the guidelines imposed by the city government [among seaports] because we respected that these are their area so I hope they will also respect our decision with regards to the airport," he added.
The governor remained firm on his stand amid the spat between the Bacolod City Government and Provincial Government of Negros Occidental over the policy on requiring the S-Pass for passengers bound for the city.
City officials pointed out that under the Executive Order (EO) earlier issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, S-Pass is no longer a requirement for travelers going to the city which was downgraded to Alert Level 2 in terms of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) transmission.
Saying it is illegal not to require S-Pass, the Provincial Government continues to implement such a protocol.
Lacson pointed out the importance of the S-PaSS as airline companies would no longer validate or authenticate the vaccine card and certificates, or the traveler's reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
"The airline companies are appreciating that, it is easier for them," Lacson said.
He added that the Provincial Government will only remove the travel requirement once the World Health Organization makes a declaration the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairman of Action Team on Non-Overseas Filipino Workers Returning Residents, said Wednesday, November 24, that passengers bound for the city via Bacolod-Silay Airport who will apply for S-Pass will be approved immediately.
"Application for S-Pass in Bacolod City is now unrestricted," the councilor said.
Rojas said that it's only applicable for the fully vaccinated passengers who will take airline travel while those who will travel in seaports are no longer required to register in the S-Pass system.
Unvaccinated passengers are still required to present their negative RT-PCR test, she said, adding that in applying for the S-Pass online, fully vaccinated passengers should attach their identification and vaccination cards.