Officials of Negros Occ., Oriental and Ceres bus on talks to reopen borders

Even though the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental had already allowed the resumption of bus trips between Dumaguete City and Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will release a new executive order anytime this week reopening the province’s border with Negros Oriental.

In an interview with Gov. Lacson this morning, he said talks between Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz and representatives from Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI) are ongoing.

“I think what is important is that we must have the same protocols with Negros Oriental considering that we are now in the same alert level,” Lacson said.

Lacson said that when they have come into an agreement with Negros Oriental and VTI, then they are ready to reopen the borders between the two provinces.

At present, Negros Occidental still has a different set of requirements such as the requirement to register via the S-PaSS system, whereas Negros Oriental no longer requires the S-PaSS system.

However, both provinces have the same travel requirements such as requiring valid vaccination cards for fully-vaccinated individuals, and a negative RT-PCR test for unvaccinated or those who have yet to complete their required doses.

“For practical purposes it has to be the same protocols for both ends,” he said.

Lacson is also adamant about a point-to-point system of transport between the two provinces so as to make it easier to manage the entry and exit of passengers.

“We would like to settle this issue as soon as possible,” he added.

Yesterday, the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental has allowed the resumption of bus trips to Negros Occidental after the province was downgraded to the less restrictive Alert Level 2 status.

Bimbo Miraflor, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Capitol, said Governor Roel Degamo has signed Executive Order No. 44 adopting the guidelines of the National Inter-Agency Task Force.* (DGB)