Manila Bulletin
Governors’ group demands COVID-19 tests for all travelers
The League of Provinces (LPP) is appealing to the national government to allow COVID-19 testing for travelers upon arrival at provincial ports of entry, arguing that pre-travel testing poses risks.
LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. stated that their request was previously denied by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) but they are pushing for reconsideration.
The proposed testing methods include antigen tests for provinces without molecular laboratories, RT-PCR tests for those with them, and saliva tests where Philippine Red Cross facilities are available.
Currently, the IATF has only approved LGUs having the discretion to require RT-PCR tests before travel, a measure the LPP wishes to amend to allow testing at the point of entry instead.
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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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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.
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Approximately 80 to 90% of local government units (LGUs) are complying with most provisions of the latest uniform travel protocols.
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Starting March 15, travelers arriving in Negros Occidental will no longer be required to undergo mandatory swab tests or quarantine, aligning with national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines.
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The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and health officials are urging the public to continue exercising extraordinary diligence in COVID-19 testing, even with the ongoing vaccination program.
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