Bus Transportation Between Negros Occ and Oriental Not Yet Allowed

Bus operations between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are still not allowed to resume, as announced by Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II. This announcement is a recent update as of October 26 until further notice since the Department of Health declares that Negros Oriental is at high risk, or under Alert Level 4, and Negros Occidental under low risk, or under Alert Level 2. [1]

Diaz reported that close borders between Negros provinces are still in implementation since the current situation still does not aid for bus operations to resume within the island. The government believes that risks reported among the provinces show that bus transportations are not yet ready to get back in operations. Diaz is hopeful that opening the borders of bus transportation between Occidental and Oriental will take place once the situation in Negros Oriental improves. [2]

Vallacar Transit Inc. has proposed to the Negros Occidental Provincial Government to resize bus transportation between the two Negros provinces. According to Provincial Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in a meeting with the Provincial Incident and Management Team, the assessment concludes that there are more risks on Negros Occidental’s end once opening borders in provinces take effect. The government reiterates that closed borders within Occidental and Oriental are helpful with their continuous effort with the health sector in the fight against Covid19. It would be ineffectual to the government’s campaign if they let lose travel restrictions in line of bus transportation within the province.

The government and the VTI are still in talks with this order. Diaz also said that VTI representatives are in the works of responding to the latter’s requests for the resumption of bus transportation between the Negros Provinces. Once the agreement to open borders between the provinces is final, both provinces shall follow the same regulations.

Regarding the restrictions of close borders for bus transportations between these Negros provinces, VTI-owned Ceres buses from Negros Oriental are not allowed to enter Negros Occidental. However, visitors with private vehicles from the other side of the island are allowed entry. They must present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result, a Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS), or a QR-coded vaccination identification card. [3]

On the other hand, Negros Oriental spokesperson Bimbo Miraflor opened up about the appeal of Provincial Governor Roel Degamo for the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) to reconsider the province’s classification or alert status. Miraflor also confirms that public bus transportation is not allowed between the Negros provinces. The spokesperson also added that they will propose updated requirements that will be announced when Governor Degamo signs the final resolution. [4]

The Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force has recorded 855 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Oriental and its capital city, Dumaguete, with 229 new cases. [5]

Bus companies in Negros are Roadstar Bacolod Bus Terminal, Bacolod South Bus Terminal, Mambucal Bus Transport, Ceres Liner Terminal, Vallacar Transit Inc Bacolod, and Ceres Liner.

Negros Occidental is currently open to fully vaccinated individuals.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Bacolod and Negros!