NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has dismissed claims that the four travelers from South Africa slipped through health protocols of the provincial government.
“It is wrong to say that they slipped through our protocols,” Lacson said, adding that the travelers arrived in the province before South Africa was classified under the red list countries.
Omicron, the new variant of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), reportedly originated from South Africa.
Lacson emphasized that the travelers, who all came from Makati, passed by Manila before proceeding to Negros Occidental.
They are now being isolated in the localities of Manapla, Calatrava and Pontevedra and La Carlota City.
Of the four, three are consultants of a power generation company based in the northern portion of Negros Occidental, while the other one is a returning overseas Filipino.
The three South Africans arrived in the province on November 24, 25 and 26, respectively.
The Negrense ROF, on the other hand, entered the province with a Travel Pass Through Permit issued by Bacolod City and was tracked down in Pontevedra.