Cebu Pacific: 10 local destinations no longer require swab test

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific on Thursday said 10 local destinations under its network will no longer require RT-PCR or antigen tests prior to travel.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said travelers bound for Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo City, Maguindanao, Butuan, Cebu province, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Pagadian and Tacloban will no longer need to present negative COVID-19 tests.

Passengers bound for Cagayan de Oro need to register to S-Pass, OPCOoorS, and contact tracing QR codes Higala and StaySafe.ph prior to entry.

Meanwhile, travelers going to Cebu province will only need to present a medical certificate issued within 24 hours before arrival in the province, stating that they do not exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms.

Further, Pagadian City-bound passengers are only required to present a valid government-issued ID, which states their address is in Pagadian City, while transiting passengers do not need to present any requirement.

“We are happy that more LGUs are gradually opening up their borders and have simplified travel requirements.  These are positive indicators in the progress of our nation’s fight against COVID, and we look forward to other places following suit,” Candice Iyog, vice president for Marketing and Customer Experience at Cebu Pacific said.

The other destinations – Butuan, Guimaras, Maguindanao, Negros Occidental (including Bacolod City), and Tacloban – accept vaccination cards of fully vaccinated individuals as travel requirement for entry.

Cebu Pacific said Iloilo City on October 16 will start accepting vaccination cards of fully vaccinated persons as a requirement.

These provinces require the following requirements aside from the vaccination card:

·       Negros Occidental - Travel coordination permit (TCP) from S-Pass and complete registration to StaySafe.ph

·       Bacolod - online BacTrac registration, online Health Declaration, S-Pass Travel Coordination Permit, and a valid personal ID.

·       Iloilo City – S-Pass Registration

·       Guimaras – TCP from S-Pass

·       Butuan – TCP from S-Pass, and upload a valid, government-issued ID on the system. For a passenger bound for cities or municipalities outside Butuan City, he/she must show approved Travel Pass-Through Permit (TPP) from S-Pass.

·       Maguindanao – valid ID and travel order for APORs

·       Tacloban – Passenger must register under the Balik Tacloban Project through www.baliktacloban.tacloban.gov.ph. A passenger bound for Tacloban may also present certification of Quarantine Completion with vaccination status in securing the Acceptance Letter when travelling to Tacloban City

Cebu Pacific also urged passengers to regularly check the COVID-19 protocols of their respective local government units before travel.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News