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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOT urges Aklan to use RT-PCR test funding after Boracay employee tests positive for COVID-19

DOT urges Aklan to use RT-PCR test funding after Boracay employee tests positive for COVID-19

Published Dec 23, 2020 01:43 pm

The Department of Tourism (DOT) urges the local government of Aklan to use the allocated P10 million funding for the free reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for Boracay Island’s tourism workers after an employee of a high-end resort tested positive for the dreaded novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this week. 

(MANILA BULLETIN)

A report said a 28-year-old male employee working in a well-known establishment in Boracay’s Station 1 tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a day off in his hometown in Lezo, Aklan on Dec. 14 and returned to work the next day and showed symptoms. 
 
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told the Manila Bulletin that the employee is now in quarantine while his other six companions in the staff house tested negative for the disease. 
 
This is now considered as the first confirmed case in Boracay since its expanded reopening to more local tourists on Oct. 1.
 
In her letter addressed to Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores dated Dec. 8, the tourism chief even asked him to “provide updates” on the  number of people tested, the amount already spent, among others, to its marketing arm, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, for transparency. 
 
TPB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones confirmed that the money was downloaded last Nov. 19 and is intended to test around 4,000 tourism workers on the island as they are expecting more local tourist arrivals in the coming months.
 
But the free testing was never carried out and made some tourism stakeholders clueless about the testing program, according to a report. 
 
Meanwhile, Puyat reminded tourism establishments, workers, and guests in Boracay Island to strictly follow health and safety protocols in order to keep the prime destination COVID-free.
 
“The DOT will continue to work closely with LGUs in ensuring that health and safety protocols are complied with in line with the slow but sure restart of tourism in the country,” she said.
 
The DOT Boracay unit works in close coordination with the Municipality of Malay authorities for the strict enforcement of entry protocols for the effective detection, isolation and treatment of confirmed cases.  Pre-registration, test-before-travel and QR code issuance are part of the first line screening to keep guests and residents protected.
 

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