MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The provincial government of Pangasinan has removed the Safe, Swift, Smart Passage (S-PaSS) permit as a travel requirement for entry in the province under the Alert Level 2 community quarantine status.
In Executive Order (EO) No. 0178 issued on Thursday, Governor Amado Espino III said S-PaSS permits shall no longer be required but travelers may still need to undergo health and exposure screening at the border checkpoints.
"The local government unit (LGU) of destination may, however, impose reasonable restrictions upon travelers originating from areas of higher quarantine classifications," the EO read.
Espino said the presentation of valid identification (ID) cards shall still be also required at the border checkpoints.
However, those coming from areas under granular lockdown, Alert Level 5, enhanced community quarantine, and modified enhanced community quarantine shall be prevented from entry to Pangasinan, except for authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) carrying valid authority to travel and/or travel order, he added.
Espino said a valid coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination card shall be sufficient in lieu of any testing to be required by the destination LGU.
He added all tourists are still encouraged to register with Pangasinan Tara Na at https://pangasinan.tarana.ph/.
The EO also covers the guidelines on the establishments of traditional bazaars, tiangges, exhibits, and pop-up stores.
"Component LGUs may impose reasonable rules and/or restrictions on the establishments of traditional bazaars, tiangges, exhibits, and pop-up stores, and regulate the operation of the same by imposing rules on their time and/or length of operation, location, and other matters," Espino said.
He also ordered that all traders, salespersons, exhibitors, organizers, and other personnel are required to be fully vaccinated prior to their actual conduct of such Christmas bazaars, tiangges, and pop-up stores to guard against exposure to and/or infection with the Covid-19.
"Component LGUs shall require proof of compliance of the vaccination requirement before a permit is granted to such seasonable store merchants. In the alternative, a refusing staff or trader shall be required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or antigen tests regularly at their own expense," he added.
It was also stated that infants and toddlers less than five years old, or those who cannot by practical reasons or means wear facemasks and comply with physical distancing are not allowed in the bazaars, tiangges, exhibits, and pop-up stores.
Establishments allowed to operate can accommodate up to 50-percent capacity for indoors and 70 percent for outdoors as stated in the EO.
"An additional 20-percent capacity per establishment shall be allowed if the establishment located in a municipality or city with vaccination coverage for Priority Group A2 and A3 has reached at least 70 percent as may be determined by the IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) while an additional 10-percent capacity shall be allowed for establishments that were awarded by safety seal certificates by the Department of the Interior and Local Government under the safety seal certification program," Espino said.
The IATF-EID placed Pangasinan under Alert Level 2 starting November 13.
The full content of the EO is posted on the official Facebook page of the province of Pangasinan. (PNA)
