The government’s Inter-Agency Task Force has approved to standardize all protocols in all government units, particularly the COVID-19 testing guidelines and the travel requirements.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced that the IATF gave a go signal to remove the mandatory RT-PCR tests for local travelers whether they’re entering their destination by land, air, and/or sea ports as crafted by the Department of Interior and Local Government in coordination with LGU groups.
LGUs used to have different requirements for incoming travellers particularly the negative swab test results, mandatory quarantine and travel and health certificates.
RELATED STORY: IATF: Foreign tourists still banned from entering PH
Under the IATF Resolution No. 101, travelers still have to undergo COVID-19 testing only if is required by the LGU of their destination – the provincial government, and authorities of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities.
But travelers can no longer be compelled to go on quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arriving at their destination according to the resolution. They are also no longer required to secure a travel authority from the police’s Joint Task Force COVID Shield, even health certificates prior to their trip.
“Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) from national government agencies and their attached agencies must provide their identification card, travel order, and travel itinerary, and must pass symptom-screening at ports of entry and exit,” the IATF added.
READ ON: Poe wants IATF to study ‘unrealistic’ rule on wearing face masks inside private cars
The IATF asked the public to strictly follow the minimum health standards amid the easing of quarantine rules.
Clinical and exposure assessment shall be done to ensure that only asymptomatic travelers, and those who did not have close contact with COVID-19 patients, can enter the LGUs.
“Health assessment of passengers, supervised by medical doctors, shall be mandatory upon entry in the port/terminal and exit at point of destination,” the IATF stressed. (TDT)
