This Week in Bacolod (February 20 to 26, 2022)

Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have downgraded their alert level status from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2, effective February 16 until the end of the month.

The acting Presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced this Alert Level 2 status update. Neighboring areas such as Iloilo and Guimaras are placed under Alert Level 3. Other areas in Western Visayas like Aklan, Antique, and Capiz are also placed under Alert Level 2Reports of the decline of active cases in the province and its capital, Bacolod City, have also been reported.

With the de-escalation of the alert level status of Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an executive order [1] as Bacolod City is placed under Alert Level 2. In the recent EO of the Bacolod City Mayor, guidelines to the nationwide implementation of alert level systems have been stated while also following the Alert Level 2 travel restrictions and individuals who want to enter Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

Under Alert Level 2, interzonal and intrazonal travel shall be permitted, as long as circumstances are subject to restrictions imposed by the local government units. Also, under Alert Level 2, dine-in services in eating establishments can cater to a maximum indoor capacity of 50% for fully vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals who are 18 years old and below only. [2]

However, amid the downgrade of Bacolod City’s alert level status, curfew hours from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM are still in effect. Modified policy on the liquor ban is still implemented, from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. These coinciding policies under Alert Level 2 in Bacolod City are also in effect starting February 16 until the end of the month.

Along with the new Alert Level 2 status of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, travel protocols have also been updated. As for fully vaccinated travelers bound to Negros Occidental, they are no longer required to present a negative RT-PCR test result or a rapid antigen test result. They would only need to comply with a vaccination card and an approved S-PaSS.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson reiterated that these fully vaccinated travelers should also come from areas under Alert Level 2. But, the government considers accepting travelers beyond this restriction, given that the active cases have again been in decline. [3] Meanwhile, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers bound for the province shall comply with a negative antigen test result, taken 48 hours before travel, and an approved S-PaSS.

Air travel bound to Negros Occidental shall be limited to two flights per airline company, per day. For Bacolod to Manila to Bacolod flights, one additional inbound Manila to Bacolod cargo-only flight, and one other outbound Bacolod to Manila passenger flight per day. For Cebu to Bacolod to Cebu flights, one flight per airline company per week is allowed, as Lacson declared, and sea vessels shall cater to passengers up to 50% of its capacity limit. [4]

On the other hand, policies for fully vaccinated travelers bound to Bacolod City have also eased following the city’s Alert Level 2 status. According to Leonardia’s EO, travelers coming from all areas in the country in whatever alert level status shall comply with a BacTrac ID and a vaccination card. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals entering Bacolod City, on the other hand, are required to present a negative antigen test result certified by the accredited laboratory under the Department of Health, taken 48 hours before leaving the area of origin. They are also required to undergo a symptom screening at the ports of Bacolod City and shall submit to minimum public health standards. [5]

The Department of Health considers Negros Occidental a low-risk area; meanwhile, Bacolod City is a moderate-risk area. [6]

The national government launched pediatric vaccination for children ages 5-11 years old last February 14.

An estimate of a hundred children have received their first doses of vaccination as the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) started to launch the said vaccination drive.

Two hospitals, the Riverside Medical Center and Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital are the designated areas for the vaccination of the little kids accompanied by their parents. The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital or CLMMRH was another area for launching the vaccination.

Still, the hospital chief and the hospital management decided to move it to a later date on the 17th and 18th of February, accommodating only registered children. [7]

The City Health Office is also one of the venues for pediatric vaccination and the top hospitals in Bacolod City.

On February 21, vaccination shall also be available at SM City Bacolod.

Executive director of EOC-TF, Em Ang, said that the vaccination of children is also in preparation for the anticipated face-to-face classes.

The Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay also hosted a vaccination drive for the kids, decorating the area with standees of superheroes and balloons. The kids got their vaccination doses successfully while enjoying eating cotton candy and ice cream.

10,000 Pfizer vaccines arrived in Bacolod City, and 15,000 vaccines for Negros Occidental. These vaccine doses were used to inoculate the children during the vaccination drive.

While children got vaxxed, it is also noted that last February 10 and 11, the Provincial Health Office reported a total of 30,945 Negrenses that have received their vaccination doses during the two-day nationwide mass vaccination drive in Negros Occidental. [8]

Moviegoers in Bacolod City are in for a blast as cinemas and movie theatres in SM City Bacolod reopens. SM City cinemas assure moviegoers that aside from providing the best movie lineups in theatres, moviegoers will also enjoy a safe movie experience, as cinemas slowly reopen amidst the pandemic and are now under Alert Level 2.

In partnership with Hygiea Innovations and Technology Inc., SM Cinemas have installed MERV filters and air purifiers for moviegoers’ safe and clean environment. A health and safety officer is also in watch inside the movie theatre, and the management ensures that the theatre facilities are thoroughly sanitized. SM Cinema employees are also fully vaccinated.

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