Albay ordinance exempts APOR, vaccinated folk from Covid test

By Cet Dematera

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay (SPA) passed on Aug. 17 an ordinance exempting authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and vaccinated persons from presenting saliva, RT-PCR or antigen test result when traveling outside of the province for 15 days or more. However, they are required to show proof of employment or vaccination certificate for purposes of issuance of letter of exemption (LOE).

The ordinance, copy of which was not yet released to the media pending the approval of Gov. Al Francis Bichara, amended some sections of Executive Order 27 earlier issued by Bichara requiring APOR and even vaccinated persons to present saliva, RT- PCR or antigen test result before being issued with the LOE.

Board member Eva Ribaya, who authored the ordinance, said that renewal of LOE will not longer require saliva, RT-PCR or antigen test, as provided for in the ordinance.

“Only those who turned positive for Covid-19 infection or subjected to contact tracing will be required to submit the earlier required test results,” Ribaya said.

She said that the main objective of the ordinance is to protect Albayanos from the virus and to ensure that cases would not surge again.

“We do not have any other intention here but to protect the Albayanos from this virus,” Ribaya added.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo), said that they would now start to adjust to the amendments stipulated in the ordinance.

“Although the ordinance still awaits the signature of Gov. Bichara, we are now going to adjust to the amendments in issuing letter of exemption (LOE),” Daep told Bicol Mail.

Residents of Albay are required to secure LOE before they would be allowed to enter the province from their work of assignments or jobs anywhere in the Bicol region.