Cebu junks Covid test for inbound travelers

by Calvin Cordova, MB

CEBU CITY – Gov. Gwen Garcia issued Executive Order No. 43 on Friday, Nov. 4, eliminating the Covid-19 test requirement for inbound travelers to Cebu. 

EO NO 43

Garcia said fully vaccinated travelers to the province will no longer be required to present any form of Covid-19 test.

But unvaccinated travelers are highly encouraged to take a rapid antigen test within 24 hours before departing for Cebu, Garcia said.

Unvaccinated travelers unable to take a Covid-19 test will be tested for free upon arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), she bared.

Result of a rapid antigen test should not be a requirement for Cebu-bound travelers prior to boarding, the governor emphasized.

Vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers shall only be required to present their ticket or passport or other valid identification card upon check-in.

“Any other requirement such as electronic arrival card shall only be presented upon arrival in Cebu,” Garcia said. 

Furthermore, she ordered that the wearing of face masks shall be optional for all travelers bound for Cebu and the MCIA.

The EO took effect on Saturday, Nov. 5, and was issued in light of a resolution that the Inter-Agency Task Force issued last Oct. 4 that eased travel restrictions for inbound travelers to the Philippines.

The edict was also in line with the memorandum that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marocs Jr. issued last Oct. 28 directing concerned agencies to identify other acceptable proofs of vaccination in order to avoid confusion and inconvenience of inbound travelers.

Inbound travelers may present negative COVID-19 antigen results — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Foreigners and returning Filipinos may now present negative laboratory-based antigen results to enter the country, Malacañang announced Friday.

Filipino and foreign nationals arriving from abroad may present a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin, said acting deputy presidential spokesperson Michel Kristian Ablan.  

“Previously, they have to show negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours. Now, it is either of the two: RT-PCR or antigen,” he said.

Ablan also announced that Hong Kong or Macau passport holders are allowed to enter the Philippines without visa provided they stay for a period not exceeding 14 days.

The Philippines has been progressively easing entry rules and scrapping pandemic restrictions after a sharp drop in COVID-19 cases. The country reopened its borders to foreign tourists in February.

Metro Manila and 39 other areas are under Alert Level 1—or the “new normal”—until March 15.

The virus has infected more than 3.6 million people in the country, with over 57,000 deaths, according to latest government data. — Gaea Katreena Cabico