DAVAO CITY – The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the imposition of a test-before-travel requirement on all passengers arriving at the Davao International Airport (DIA) here.
In a statement Friday, the City Government of Davao said the IATF approved the request of City Mayor Sara Duterte during its meeting last Jan. 28.
It said that Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat informed Mayor Duterte of the update in a letter dated Feb. 3.
“We wish to inform you that the IATF has approved your request,” Puyat said.
Puyat also said: “The DOT is one with the City of Davao in its efforts to curb the spread of the virus. We look forward to working with you as we pursue our goal of a slow but sure recovery of the tourism industry.”
The city government wrote to Puyat last Jan. 22 to request the assistance of the DOT "in negotiating with the IATF for the imposition of mandatory Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing for all travelers before they arrive at the DIA."
"In its meeting, the IATF-EID approved the request of Mayor Sara to impose a test-before-travel requirement without prejudice to the approval of the uniform/standard guidelines for travel by land, sea, and air," it added.
It said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will come up with a recommendation in a week’s time for the approval of the IATF.
The city government's free RT-PCR testing at the DIA was suspended last Jan. 14 and will resume once its Los Amigos COVID-19 laboratory goes into full operation.
The free RT-PCR testing was intended for arriving passengers who have no RT-PCR negative results, taken within 24 to 72 hours before their scheduled flights. A negative RT-PCR test result was required for a passenger to exit DIA.
The city government said air passengers with negative RT-PCR tests are prioritized in exiting the DIA after checking their health declaration forms (HDFs).
"Non-Davao City flight passengers may still exit the airport even without the RT-PCR negative test as long as their LGUs will fetch them and they can present other needed documents. Neighboring local government units (LGUs) are urged to pick up their locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at the DIA." it said.
For Davao City residents who have no negative RT-PCR test results to show, the city government said "HDFs and other necessary documents will be checked."
"They must follow the requirements and will be given their health monitoring forms since they need to check-in with their BHERTS (Barangay Health Emergency Response Team). The 14- day home quarantine is mandatory," it added.