DOT wants less travel requirements ahead of holidays
The Department of Tourism is appealing to the government to further ease travel requirements to reduce costs for families who will go out of town during the holidays.
“I hope there will be fewer travel restrictions so that more Filipinos can finally enjoy this Christmas with their families without spending too much,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday.
“Admittedly, ‘yung magastos talaga is the negative RT-PCR. Syempre, mas maganda na if they accept vaccination cards in lieu of RT-PCR, less gastos din ‘yun,” Puyat said.
[Translation: Admittedly, the negative RT-PCR requirement is prohibitively expensive. Of course, it would be preferable if they accepted vaccination cards instead of RT-PCR, as this would save money.]
RELATED: LIST: LGUs ease COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers
The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on October 28 that a negative COVID-19 test result is no longer required in Cebu province, Lapu-Lapu City, and Catbalogan City. Travelers to Bohol, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidentales only need to present their VaxCertPH vaccination certificates.
When visiting Baguio City, Clark Freeport Zone, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Tarlac, Masbate, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, Maasing City, Misamis Oriental, and Cebu City, visitors must also present vaccination cards.
Except for fully vaccinated visitors from Panay Island and Guimaras, Aklan authorities still require a negative RT-PCR test result for tourists heading to Boracay.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation is collaborating with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center to provide free swab tests to qualified travelers. There is a daily limit of 350 tests. Puyat also stated that the DOT intends to seek funding from other organizations to subsidize tourist testing.
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