ILOILO CITY – As the number of COVID-19 cases spiked in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, all inbound travelers to Western Visayas have been required to present negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test results prior to entry.
The governors of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental as well as the two mayors of highly urbanized cities Iloilo and Bacolod all agreed to implement the requirement of a negative swab test result taken 72 hours before travel.
The agreement was reached right after a Friday virtual meeting also attended by Undersecretary Epimaco Densing of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City said the policy takes effect Saturday here and Iloilo.
The temporary protocol will last until April 10 or sooner if any of the local government units (LGUs) would lift.
There is a spike in COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo, where more than 100 call center agents tested positive for the disease. As contact tracing is underway, officials expect more positive cases in the next few days.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. called on residents not to be complacent and said it is best if people think Iloilo is still under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which is the strictest status.