Vallacar Transit Inc., the operator of Ceres buses, resumed trips from Negros Oriental to Negros Occidental and those coming from Cebu Saturday, Nov. 20.
This was after the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the VTI agreed on the conditions and requirements in the resumption of trips.
VTI media relations officer Jade Seballos said the company welcomed the conditions imposed by Capitol in allowing passengers from Dumaguete and Cebu to enter Negros Occidental.
Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Friday issued the guidelines for incoming passengers via inland, passing three approved routes.
He said that four Ceres buses are allowed to ply the Bacolod-Dumaguete route via the Mabinay border, and four units for the Bacolod to Cebu route, passing Don Salvador Benedicto, and vice versa.
Fully vaccinated passengers are required to present S-PaSS and verified vaccination cards. Those who are unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, must present S-PaSS and negative RT-PCR results prior to boarding.
Only the VTI South Terminal units can carry passengers up to 70 percent of the load capacity. The bus company is required to provide the province with the passenger manifest for monitoring and possible contact tracing, Diaz said.
Seballos said they ensured that all drivers were vaccinated and underwent medical/health check-ups before the trips resumed Saturday, as part of the requirements of the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
All bus units also underwent routine checks to ensure their roadworthiness, she added.
The province of Negros Oriental approved Tuesday the entry of public utility vehicles from the Occidental side. – MML
