The arrival area of Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental. (PNA Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government has approved additional flights at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City starting March 1.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday each airline will already be allowed up to three Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights daily, from only two previously.
“We’re increasing the flights on a daily basis,” Lacson told reporters in a telephone interview.
Three airlines are flying to Bacolod -- Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippines Air Asia.
Before March 1, aside from the two flights daily, airline companies were also allowed to avail of one more inbound Manila to Bacolod cargo-only flight and additional outbound passenger trips to Manila per day.
Both PAL and Cebu Pacific had also been flying from Mactan, Cebu, and vice versa only once a week.
On Monday afternoon, Lacson issued Executive Order 22-08, stating that effective Tuesday, PAL and Cebu Pacific will now have three Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights daily while Air Asia will still have two flights per day.
Also, Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu fights will increase to three for PAL, and Cebu Pacific to four, on a weekly basis.
From March 1 to 15, Negros Occidental will remain under Alert Level 2, a status preferred by Lacson based on his earlier statement.
The governor said he would prefer that the province remains under Alert Level 2 as a precaution since coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is still around.
He added that he would like to remain cautious against the virus, especially during an election campaign.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the provincial government will still require a Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage or S-PaSS for Bacolod-bound travelers arriving via the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
Effective March 1, this capital city will be de-escalated to Alert Level 1, the lowest category in the Covid-19 alert system.
The governor said although the S-PaSS is required since the airport is situated in Silay City, which is under the jurisdiction of Negros Occidental, travel will still be “very easy”.
“It has not caused any hassle on the part of the travelers especially if you’re fully vaccinated. There will be no inconvenience,” he added. (PNA)
