CEBU CITY – The province of Cebu is easing up its restrictions for all travellers starting February 1.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered that all international arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals will be allowed to enter Cebu as long as they are fully vaccinated and have been tested negative of COVID-19.
Garcia issued the order through a January 28 memorandum addressed to the Bureau of Quarantine, Mactan Cebu International Airport, airline operators and "all concerned."
The issuance of the governor's memo was in observance of an Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution that adjusted the entry, testing and quarantine protocols for international arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals.
Under the resolution, all travellers from foreign trips will be allowed to enter the country as long as they are fully vaccinated and they are able to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.
Garcia's memo also stated the requirements for the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or individuals whose vaccination cannot be independently validated.
The requirements include the presentation of a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin; swab upon arrival and undergoing a facility-based quarantine until the release of second RT-PCR test result taken on the fifth day.
"Airline operators are enjoined to require international passengers traveling to Cebu to present proof of their full vaccination at their place of origin upon check-in. Absence of said proof shall classify the traveler as unvaccinated or partially unvaccinated," a portion of Garcia's memo read.