Negros Occ. still closed to domestic, foreign tourists

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the province remains closed to domestic and foreign tourists, even as the Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for the revival of the industry through domestic tourism.

“We cannot pre-empt the vaccines. Non-essential travel is still not allowed. The Bacolod-Silay Airport is still closed to tourists,” Diaz said.

He also said that even travel within the province is not encouraged.

Diaz noted that mayors are still worried that COVID-19 cases will spike, especially with the new coronavirus variant.

Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson instructed the Provincial Legal Office to act against three returning overseas Filipinos from United Kingdom, who arrived in Negros Occidental on January 16 and claimed that they are locally stranded individuals.

While the provincial government managed to contain the spread of COVID-19, Diaz said this is no reason for Negrenses to let their guard down even if vaccines are coming.

“We cannot be careless,” he said.

As of Sunday, Negros Occidental had 119 active cases, and San Enrique and Valladolid posted no new infections, the Provincial Incident Management Team said.