FREE RT-PCR TESTS FOR BACOLOD-BOUND TRAVELERS PROPOSED

Governor Bong Lacson, through Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, has proposed to the Bacolod City Government to have a free RT-PCR test for inbound travelers to Bacolod, instead of a rapid antigen test (RAT), to ensure everyone’s safety and curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Capitol officials agree that there is a high chance that the virus from other provinces can easily spread in Bacolod City and the Province of Negros Occidental, because some COVID-infected individuals are asymptomatic.

Atty. Diaz further said he does not agree to the RAT result from the point of origin, because there is no official document that proves that a passenger from other provinces is nonreactive to RAT.

He also suggested that a swab test upon arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport is a better solution, with Bacolod City subsidizing the cost for Bacolod passengers.

According to PA, the province is also proposing that the city should shoulder half of the expense for RT-PCR test of a Bacolod-bound passenger, as other LGUs are also contributing to the testing expense of their arriving residents, in order to make sure that they are not infected with contagious virus.

Because of the increasing local COVID cases in the province, he also asks the public to temporarily refrain from unnecessary travel.