TACLOBAN CITY – The city government here has restricted anew the entry of travelers from “high-risk” regions amid the rising coronavirus disease 2019 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby areas.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez issued an Executive Order late Monday requiring Covid-19 RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test for all travelers to the city and adopting the travel protocols issued by the local task force against Covid-19.
“There are new variants of Covid-19 spreading in other parts of the country. We have to implement some measures to be observed by people coming from Metro Manila and nearby areas to protect our people and our economy here,” Romualdez said in a press briefing Monday afternoon.
Those coming to the city from outside Eastern Visayas are required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result done within three days before their entry. The counting of days will start from the test date. Travelers may send the result together with the required documents at www.baliktacloban.tacloban.gov.ph.
Other documentary requirements include office identification (ID) card and official travel order for government and private workers; government-issued ID for adults and certificate of live birth for infants and children under the returning residents.
Returning overseas Filipino workers are required to present a government-issued ID while transient or visitors will be asked to present Bureau of Quarantine Certification.
The city government will issue an acceptance certificate with an imprinted local QR code to every registered traveler.
This will be presented in the referral booths set up in terminals upon arrival.
If travelers are unable to provide the Covid-19 RT-PCR test result, they will undergo a swab test upon arrival in the city and will be quarantined while waiting for their results.
Those who arrived at the city’s airport and heading to areas outside the city will not be required to go through the process, according to the city government.
The directive took effect on Monday and will remain in effect until the city government issues a new order.
As of April 4, the city has recorded 2,173 cases, including 2,056 recoveries and 55 deaths. There are 62 active cases. (PNA)
