RT-PCR Test Exclusion for Fully Vaccinated Tourists Pushed in Palawan

The country’s business sectors are pushing local government units (LGUs) to ease travel restrictions for fully vaxxed domestic travelers in Palawan and the rest of key destinations: Bohol, Cebu, Aklan, Siargao, Palawan, and more. Business sectors and LGUs are in talks with Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion to exempt fully vaccinated travelers from complying with a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results. Concepcion gives favorable feedback on this, as he said to have received positive responses from governors and mayors regarding this matter. [1]

Airline companies have been requesting the same appeal, as Concepcion added. [2]

Currently, point-to-point (P2P) travel is allowed for all ages, whether for essential or leisure, as long as seniors and individuals with health conditions are fully vaccinated. In Coron, Palawan, fully vaccinated travelers are allowed, as long as these individuals provide a negative RT-PCR test or saliva test result. Meanwhile, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers are still not allowed to enter the province.

For travelers bound to Puerto Princesa, authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) passengers who are fully vaccinated with the intent to stay for a maximum of three days may only comply with a vaccination card and other required records for them to be exempted from the 10-day mandatory quarantine. [3]

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) still requires travelers to have a negative RT-PCR test result upon arrival at their destinations. They urge to follow quarantine protocols to boost tourism amidst the pandemic since this is one of the aspects greatly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It would also help these areas revive their tourism and reopen resorts, hotels, and the like.

The public is still advised to check with the respective local government units of their planned destination for any latest updates and changes with the travel protocols issued by the authority, as this is to ensure health and safe travel for everybody.

Visit Yoorekka Consumer Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Palawan!