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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DoT's warning to tourists: Don't fake COVID tests, travel documents

DoT's warning to tourists: Don't fake COVID tests, travel documents

Published Feb 3, 2021 07:06 pm

Penalties including possible imprisonment await tourists falsifying their travel documents which are considered essential in the "new normal," the Department of Tourism (DoT) said.

(MANILA BULLETIN)

In a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 3, the DoT urged travelers to "stop forging and faking travel documents or else face fines and proper criminal charges from the local government units (LGUs) which may include the penalty of imprisonment." 

The DoT issued the appeal after six tourists who entered Boracay Island were found with fake RT-PCR test results. Three of the tourists were later revealed to be positive for COVID-19. 

The public was also reminded that RT-PCR tests for tourists coming from Manila are available through the Philippine General Hospital and the Philippine Children’s Medical Hospital for P900 and P750 , respectively.

The Tourism department also called on LGUs to tighten their assessment of applications made through their registration system.

Meanwhile, the DoT Boracay is now in close coordination with health authorities from the Municipality of Malay over the contact-tracing and monitoring of the erring tourists, who are being quarantined at the Aklan Training Center.

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