Capitol to set swab test booth at Bredco port

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City- Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday that the provincial government will put up a swab test booth at the Bredco port for returning Negrenses.

This as Mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City and Jerry Trenas of Iloilo City agreed Monday night to the resumption of sea travel between the two cities starting Tuesday.

Lacson said the swab test is for non-Bacolod residents or passengers who have a provincial address.

“We’re setting up. We have personnel from the Health Office who will do the swabbing in the seaport.”

As for Bacolod, Lacson said that “they have their own protocol. They do swab tests and quarantine those coming in.”

Lacson said Bacolod can now send their specimen to the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital biolab based on a communication from the Department of Health regional office.

As to the statement of former 3rd District Congressman Alfredo Benitez that he will pay for the swab tests for Bacolod residents, Lacson said Bacolod residents should be grateful for it.

Earlier,  Benitez, the economic consultant of the provincial government, said that he will work with the DOH and PhilHealth so that the TLJPH can be reimbursed for the cost of the Covid-19 tests, and if not, he will pay for the tests for Bacolod residents.

Lacson clarified though that “It is not a payment, but a donation.”

The governor said that the provincial government has no ordinance yet authorizing fees for the swab test at the TLJPH biolab.