FOLLOWING the lifting of the requirement of presenting a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result by the City Governments of Bacolod and Iloilo, fastcrafts in Western Visayas have resumed operations Monday, January 24, 2022.
In an executive order (EO) issued by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Sunday, January 23, fully vaccinated travelers and those who have received booster shots are only required to show proof of inoculation and identification cards, while those who had their first dose and those who are not vaccinated are required to present a rapid antigen test (RAT).
For his part, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas also issued an EO on Monday lifting the RT-PCR test requirement for travelers who are fully vaccinated and have received booster shots who will be entering the locality.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers, meanwhile, are still required to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours before their trips.
As this developed, Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express, said the 11 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. Iloilo to Bacolod trips were able to sail Monday.
Since Treñas already lifted the RT-PCR test requirement for travelers entering Iloilo City, Carbon said there will be a first trip going to Iloilo, which will leave the Bredco Port in Bacolod City at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The second trip will be at 1:10 p.m., he added.
Carbon said the opening of borders and easing of restrictions are welcome developments, considering that most passengers are already inoculated against Covid-19.
Fast craft operators in Western Visayas temporarily suspended their trips earlier this month after the Cities of Iloilo and Bacolod decided to revive the requirement on presenting RT-PCR test results amid the increasing cases of Covid-19 in the region.
Weesam Express and Ocean Jet Ferries Inc. are currently the only fastcraft vessels operating in Western Visayas as SuperCat is in an on-and-off operation, he said.
Meanwhile, Carbon, also the the chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that the lifting of RT-PCR test requirement of Bacolod and Iloilo cities should signal other localities in the region to ease their travel protocols as well to help the business sector.
Carbon, who is also the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Visayas, said both Iloilo and Bacolod are vulnerable to the rapid spread of Covid-19 anew being highly urbanized cities.
Yet, Treñas and Leonardia took the risk and opened the borders to balance the scale between the health of the people and their socio-economic interactions.