Senate President Vicente Sotto III has urged the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to adopt the Cebu provincial government's mandatory testing policy for all travelers from abroad.
Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. also supported the Cebu province's ordinance.
Sotto backed Cebu's swab-upon-arrival policy, saying this, instead of the IATF's seven to 10-day quarantine rule for travelers, should be implemented.
"I strongly support EO (Executive Order) No. 17 Series of 2021 of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-04 of the Cebu Provincial Board implementing the Swab-Upon-Arrival Policy," he said in a statement.
"The IATF Guidelines give additional burden to our overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) by requiring them to spend their time and hard-earned money to stay in hotels and accredited quarantine facilities," he added.
Under the Cebu government's ordinance, OFWs and returning overseas Filipinos shall undergo COVID-19 RT-PCR test to be administered by the Department of Health (DOH) at the airport.
If they tested negative, they will immediately be allowed to proceed to their destination and continue their quarantine at home.
With the swab-upon-arrival policy, Sotto said Cebu residents, OFWs, and returning migrants would be spared from additional expenses incurred for staying in hotels and quarantine facilities.
"In this manner, the IATF- required quarantine and swab test have not been violated. The purpose for which these protocols were put in place has not been defeated," Sotto said.
"It’s actually a win-win situation for both the OFWs and ROFs and the government. This is an innovative, safe and reasonable protocol especially for our OFWs. I’m looking forward that this best practice will be implemented throughout the country," he appealed.
Sotto earlier called on the IATF to lift its mandatory quarantine protocol for fully-vaccinated individuals entering the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Revilla said: “I laud the provincial government of Cebu for extending humanitarian considerations to our OFWs and ROFs who are besieged with various challenges during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their anxieties with their job and financial security, health and safety while away from their families cannot be appeased by any amount or article."
"Indeed, allowing them to immediately reunite with their families upon their arrival in the province under the 'Swab-Upon-Arrival-Policy' is a commendable initiative," he added.