The League of Provinces (LPP) called on the national government to allow COVID-19 testing for travelers upon their arrival at the point of entry of provinces, noting testing before travel is risky.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday, LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) already disapproved their request but they are appealing it.
“Ang request namin kung puwede magkaroon ng testing sa port of entry, sa mga seaport or airport,” he said.
(Our request was to conduct the test at the port of entry in seaports or airports.)
Velasco said LPP wants antigen test in areas without molecular laboratory, RT-PCR test in those that have, and saliva test for those with Philippine Red Cross facilities.
“Ang hinihiling namin ay bigyan kami ng authority at discretion kung gusto ng LGU na mag-impose kami ng testing either PCR, saliva test, or antigen test at the port of entry, hindi po yung prior,” he said.
(Our request is for us to have authority to impose testing either PCR, saliva test, or antigen test at the port of entry, not prior to entry.)
League of Provinces pushes for testing upon arrival of travelers
He has earlier said that most local government units do not agree with the decision of the national government to remove and ease several health protocols and requirements amid the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) recently issued Resolution No. 101 for standardized travel protocols across all LGUs. It said travelers do not need to undergo testing unless mandated by the LGU.
Travel authority and health certificates will no longer be required under the IATF resolution.
Travelers would no longer be required to undergo quarantine unless they show symptoms at the destination upon arrival.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said despite the recorded cases of the allegedly more contagious coronavirus variant, tourism in the country can still continue as long as tourists follow the minimum health protocols.
For now, local government units (LGUs) can open their tourism industry in areas under modified general community quarantine.