Western Visayas eases curbs as COVID-19 cases drop

GRADUAL RETURN Restaurants and other shops in Boracay have reopened as tourists from Metro Manila and provinces in Western Visayas region start to return to the resort island in Malay, Aklan. —JACK JARILLA

ILOILO CITY—Pandemic restrictions on movement and travel have been scaled down further in Western Visayas due to lower COVID-19 risk levels.

From March 1 to 15, Aklan, Capiz, and Guimaras provinces and Bacolod City are under the lowest category Alert Level 1.

Antique, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces, and Iloilo City are under Alert Level 2 for the same period.

Starting March 1, the Iloilo City government has scrapped the government’s S-PASS permit to travel to the city.

Travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are only required to present their vaccination card or certificated and valid identification card.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers are required to submit a negative swab test result upon check-in with their airline or sea vessel.

In Aklan, which includes Boracay Island, public and private establishments can operate to capacity, including on-site workers.

Public transportation is also allowed up to 100 percent of seating capacity.

All curfew had been lifted, and the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages allowed, except in public plazas, gymnasiums, streets, and government buildings and structures.

The province earlier allowed fully vaccinated tourists to enter Aklan and Boracay Island. They are required to present their vaccination certificates or cards.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers are still required to submit a negative swab test result within 72 hours before their trip to Aklan.

Curfew had also been lifted, and business firms and government offices allowed to operate at capacity in Capiz.

The S-PASS requirement and the mandatory quarantine for travelers had also been lifted.

The Department of Health in Western Visayas reported that the average daily COVID-19 cases in the region dropped significantly to 361 as of February 27 from 828 in January.

In Guimaras, all establishments and public transportation have also been allowed to operate at capacity.

Unvaccinated individuals, who enter the island province, are still required to submit a negative swab test result within 72 hours before traveling to the island.

Iloilo has allowed more flights between the province and Manila, Cebu, Davao, and General Santos.

Fully vaccinated travelers are only required to present their COVID-19 vaccination cards or certificates upon entry to the province, while the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated need to submit a negative swab test result.

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