Airport security has been tightened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after a male passenger from General Trias, Cavite was denied boarding in a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Butuan last Monday.
The passenger was prohibited from boarding his flight because he presented a COVID-19 swab test certificate showing positive result.
PAL said that all domestic and international passengers are required to submit negative RT-PCR results to airline counters before they are given boarding passes as a safety precaution.
Meanwhile, PAL opens Antigen Testing Facility for their clients at PAL Gate 3 on Andrews Avenue, Pasay City.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said both local government units of General Santos and Butuan City now accept negative antigen test results as a requirement for entry.
The tests will be conducted by DOH-accredited partner, Detoxicare Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. Testing is available from 1AM to 7AM daily (Monday-Sunday, including holidays) via drive-thru or walk-in.
Passengers must be tested no later than 2 hours before departure time.
The antigen test result is valid within 72 hours before departure for General Santos, and 5 days before departure for Butuan. Cost of test is PHP700 with the results released within 30 minutes.
Upon entering the facility, passengers must present their ID, PAL ticket, and QR code indicating successful registration to the PAL
Passenger Profile Health Declaration (PPHD).
They will be asked to fill out a Health Assessment Checklist in compliance with the PH Department of Health requirements on entering public places.