The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Department of Tourism's (DOT) on Monday, Jan. 10, announced that it would stop processing the applications for the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR test subsidy with Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) amid the increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.
The move, according to the TPB, was due to limited encoders and personnel in the swabbing team of PCMC's COVID-19 testing laboratory.
"We are constrained to temporarily suspend the processing and endorsement of RT-PCR subsidy applications from January 17 to 27, 2022," the TPB said in a statement.
However, the TPB noted that it will continue to process and endorse the 50 percent subsidy applications for previously approved applicants with flights departing up to Jan. 16.
"We shall resume the endorsement of RT PCR subsidy-approved applications to PCMC on 28 January for flights departing on the 31st of January 2022 onwards," it added.
For any queries, the agency urged the public to contact the TPB PCMC Team through email at phtravel_pcmcigtpb.gov.ph or the TPB Official Facebook page.
The DOT and TPB earlier partnered with the PCMC to make RT-PCR tests affordable to domestic tourists.
Under the subsidy, the TPB shoulders 50 percent of the original price charged by the PCMC, cutting the fee for travelers to P750.
To avail, the tourist must register at https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel/ five days before the scheduled departure date, and submit the needed requirements.