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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Test before travel' rule still imposed in most PH tourist destinations, says Puyat

'Test before travel' rule still imposed in most PH tourist destinations, says Puyat

Published Mar 10, 2021 01:11 pm

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has clarified that most major tourist destinations in the country--at least those that have reopened--still require travelers to present a negative swab test result before going there.

(Tara Yap / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, March 10 at Loreland Farm Resort in Antipolo City, Rizal, Puyat gave a run down of tourists spots that still require the prior conduct of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests on visitors.

"The ones that require are Boracay (in Aklan); Bohol; El Nido, Coron (in Palawan); San Vicente and Puerto (Galera) they're opening up March 15, they will be requiring (swab tests)," she said.

"Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, La Union, they will be opening this month, they will also be requiring; Siargao requires also; Siquijor will require, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental will also require; Iloilo also requires," added Puyat.

"Actually halos lahat (nearly all destinations) they require test before travel," the tourism chief pointed out.

Puyat stressed during the same presser that it is the local government unit's (LGU) call whether or not it would open borders to tourists amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

"As a I said, kapag MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), pwede na ang tourism. Pwede na magbukas (Tourism can reopen once a place is under MGCQ). But whether to open up or not is up to the LGU with the exception of Boracay," she said.

She explained that the decision to reopen tourism in Boracay fell on the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, although the LGU there still sought advice from DOT.

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