The government’s pandemic task force is set to discuss once again the travel protocols within the Philippines for fully vaccinated individuals, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the public need to present a negative RT-PCR test result when traveling to their destination if the local government unit (LGUs) requires it. This is regardless of their vaccination status.
According to the DOH, Duque was referring to Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 101 “where it is up to the LGU if they will still require testing.”
"IATF Resolution No. 101 remains in effect, which affords the LGUs the flexibility to require a negative RT-PCR result before granting anyone entry to their locality," the DOH said in a statement.
Last July 4, the Malacanang announced IATF Resolution No. 124-B, "allowing vaccination cards as sufficient alternatives to any testing requirements before travel or upon arrival to LGU of destination." However, some local government units expressed their hesitation to this new policy.
“Bago yan, ang dati nating resolusyon ay mayroon tayong testing...Sa ngayon ibabalik muna natin doon. Hanggat sa maayos natin (Before that, our previous resolution was that we require testing ... For now, we will once again implement that, as we resolve this),” said Duque in a program in ABS-CBN Teleradyo on Wednesday, July 7.
The members of the IATF, together with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), are set to resolve this matter on Thursday, July 8, said Duque.
“Parang nagkakaproblema dahil yung implementation medyo may mga operational challenges o difficulties. So paplantayhin natin ito bukas (It seems that there are problems because the implementation has some operational challenges or difficulties. So we will iron this out tomorrow),” he said.
“Sa ngayon ibabalik muna natin doon (previous protocol). Hanggat sa maayos natin. Bukas matapos ang usapin, kung kinakailangan amyendahan pa itong Resolution No. 124-B (For now, we will implement the previous protocol. Tomorrow, the matter will be discussed and let's see if there's a need to amend this Resolution No. 124-B),” he added.