Manila Bulletin
'Test before travel' rule still imposed in most PH tourist destinations, says Puyat
Most tourist destinations in the Philippines, including Boracay, Bohol, and various locations in Palawan, continue to require a negative test result before travelers can enter, despite a recent Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution that removed mandatory testing.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat clarified that the test-before-travel policy is now dependent on the requirements set by each local government unit (LGU).
Destinations such as Siargao, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, and Cebu City are among those that will still require pre-travel testing.
The IATF's Resolution No. 101 aimed to simplify entry protocols, with the test-before-travel requirement now only enforced if an LGU specifically mandates it.
Previously, entry guidelines often included various clearances and quarantine periods even for travelers with negative test results.
The only significant change from the latest IATF resolution is the removal of the mandatory 14-day quarantine, unless a traveler exhibits COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival at the tourist destination.
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Most local government units (LGUs) are against the easing and removal of several travel protocols and requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).
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