New Philippines COVID-19 rules: PCR test scrapped for domestic travel

New Philippines COVID-19 rules: PCR test scrapped for domestic travel

A rule mandating RT-PCR test for local travel has been scrapped in the Philippines following a recent government decision. The move came as a result of efforts to unify travel protocols in all local government units (LGUs), according to a senior official. More importantly, it also scrapped the requirement to secure a travel authority document from the police and a clearance from local health authorities. In the past, these two documents, in addition to a negative PCR test result, were required for people to move from one province or city to another within the Philippines. The latest government decision is seen as a way to kickstart domestic tourism. Following are the updates: The IATF resolution was dated February 26, 2021, but was announced by the Presidential Palace on February 27 (Saturday). Rules related to COVID-19 measures are decided upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). The task force updates and revises protocols from time to time as part of precautionary measures to control the pandemic. The Uniform Travel Protocols (UTP) for land, air and sea was drafted and recommended by the Department of the Interior and Local Government alongside the Union of Local