Traveling to Bacolod? Bacolod City has downgraded to
Alert Level 1 status, while the province of Negros Occidental currently remains under Alert Level 2 until the end of March.
Though geographically located in one area, Negros Occidental and its highly urbanized capital city of Bacolod have various policies, rules, and protocols regarding the alert level
guidelines and travel restrictions implemented in each area.
Travel vehicles and public transportation are now allowed at full capacity. For Bacolod City, there are no
restrictions when it comes to indoor and outdoor capacities in activities and establishments under Alert Level 1. Also, under these alert level protocols, intrazonal and interzonal travel is allowed regardless of age and comorbidities.
Establishments and activities are allowed at a maximum of 50% indoor capacity and 70% outdoor capacity. As for Negros Occidental, under Alert Level 2, interzonal and intrazonal travel is allowed, but under certain limitations. Gaming establishments are also not permitted to operate under this alert level.
Both alert level regulations still require the proper use of face masks.
Rules that also fall under Alert Level 1 for
travel are the allowed 100% full passenger capacity of the land, aviation, and maritime transportation, including passenger jeepneys and travel vehicles in the ports of Bacolod City.
When traveling between Bacolod and Negros Occidental, protocols regarding the transportation capacity will follow the guidelines with the lower capacity. Rules on using plastic dividers have also been scrapped.
Interzonal travel in Bacolod City does not require the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) travel system.
Fully vaccinated travelers to Bacolod and Negros Occidental are also not required to undergo quarantine anymore.
Negros Occidental might be lowered to Alert Level 1 until further notice, as long as they comply with the parameters, especially on improving the vaccination rate of senior citizens.
As of writing, travel is more lenient than the past months, but it is still highly advisable to adhere to the health and safety
protocols and constant wearing of face masks while traveling or being exposed in public places.
Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Bacolod and Negros Island!
All details and information in this article are true and accurate as of the publication date. However, while we are making our utmost effort to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the condition surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unpredictable, and the situation develops rapidly. Hence, some information and recommendations may have changed since this article was published. For the latest advice, visit DOH and your LGU's official websites.
Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3uuyY83
[2] https://bit.ly/30VeL0D
[3] https://bit.ly/3wA6QDi
[4] https://bit.ly/3qysFPG
[5] https://bit.ly/3ie6ji9
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