S-PaSS issue settled, capitol exec says

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – For Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Rayfrando Diaz, the issue on the S-PaSS requirement is settled after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas issued a statement that the provincial government of Negros Occidental can require an S-PaSS on local government units.

There is nothing more to discuss, Diaz said.

Earlier, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked DILG regional director Juan Jovian Ingeniero through a letter to issue to stop the provincial government of Negros Occidental from implementing the S-PaSS (Swift, Safe, Smart Passage) requirement for Bacolod-bound travelers via different airline companies.

The conflict between Bacolod City government and Negros Occidental provincial government on the S-PaSS issue stemmed from the latter’s non-recognition of Leonardia’s Executive Order 53 issued on Nov 14, 2021 following the downgrading of Bacolod from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 2 on Nov 15-30 by the national government.

Leonardia, in his letter to Ingeniero, said that his order is in conformity and in compliance with the “Guidelines on the Implementation of Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response in Pilot Areas as of October 13, 2021” issued by the National Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-MEID).

Ingeniero said that they already provided the city government of Bacolod “the policy direction towards the use of S-PaSS based on the existing IATF Resolution.”

“In as far as the Regional Inter Agency Task Force is concerned, we are in abeyance to the policy set by the IATF on the use of S-PaSS; in which the LGUs have the means to set depending on their travel restriction,” he said.

He further said that “this remains as our basis in guiding our LGUs in crafting their local guidelines.”

“We are cognizant of the intention of Bacolod City to ease the travel requirements for those going there, but there are means to do this, while in line with the policy set by the national government.”

Diaz claimed it was proven that it was not the provincial government who misinformed the airline passengers.

“We always take care of our passengers, making sure that they catch their flight and make sure that they are comfortable in their travel,” he pointed out.

Diaz added that the Philippine Airlines established a help desk at the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) to assist passengers in the S-PaSS application, aside from the Malasakit help desks, where they are being advised to seek help if there is a problem regarding their travel.

“We will only improve, but not scrap the S-PaSS, or do away something that is effective in screening passengers going to Negros Occidental,” he said

Diaz also clarified that the provincial government of Negros Occidental has not approved any S-PaSS with false information, contrary to claims.

Executive Director Em Ang of the Bacolod’s Emergency Operations Task Force questioned the advisory issued by the Philippine Air Lines requiring Bacolod City residents to declare that they are residents of Brgy. Airport in Silay City, in applying for an S-PaSS, which serves as the contact tracing tool of the government.

Ang pointed out that the PAL memo, which many called a “joke”, is tantamount to instructing inbound travelers to lie by supplying fake or false information on an official government platform.