BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force has ordered the retention of status quo on the requirements of local government units in Western Visayas for locally stranded individuals returning to the region.
In Resolution No. 3, the RIATF and the Regional Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease said that LGUs in the region should wait until a plan of action on the uniform requirements for LSIs and other travelers cascade, RIATF head secretariat, Christian Naganay, said.
The RIATF and RTF-MEID also urged LGUs to be prepared to use the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage Travel and mobility management system (S-PaSS) and the StaySafe.ph, a one-stop-shop app for all travelers developed by the Department of Science and Technology in Region 6.
The S-PaSS is a QR-coded travel management system primarily intended to make a hassle-free journey for LSIs, returning overseas Filipinos, emergency travelers, and other travelers during this pandemic.
The S-PaSS is also meant to benefit not only the travelers but also the authorities to properly monitor the movement of people in different locations in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Earlier, the national IATF issued a resolution that states that travel authority and medical certificates are no longer necessary when travelling, although the LGUs were given the option to implement it or not.
REQUIREMENTS
In Bacolod, Councilor Cindy Rojas announced that authorized persons outside residence (APORs) are required to submit certificate of employment, while businessmen should present their business permits before travelling to the City.
Rojas said that the APORs should also present company identification cards, BaCTrac, and contact details.
Those travelling for medical reasons can be accommodated with an immediate family member, provided that they present medical requests or certificates, she added.
Rojas also said that, in case the travel is due to the death of a family member, the traveler is required to submit a death certificate. All requirements should be submitted to apor.bacolod2020@gmail.com, and the requesting party should wait for two to three days for approval or authorization before travel.*
