LGUs may still require swab test results from people with vax card, DOH clarifies

Local government units may still require visitors to present negative swab test results before they can be granted entry, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

According to Divine Reyes’ report on Super Radyo dzBB, the clarification came after the Inter-Agency Task Force approved Resolution No. 124-B, which allows vaccination cards as alternatives to testing requirements of the city of destination.

The DOH said that Resolution No. 101 remains in effect.

Resolution No. 101 “affords the LGUs the flexibility to require a negative RT-PCR result before granting anyone entry to their locality.”     

#BantayCOVID19: Mga umiiral na protocol ng IATF kaugnay sa interzonal travel, hindi muna babaguhin, ayon sa @DOHgovph. | via @divinereyes pic.twitter.com/2Wt7E73WYn

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 7, 2021

Reyes said that some local governments aired their concerns that Resolution No. 124-B may lead to a surge in COVID-19 cases in their  localities.

However, the Health Department maintained that LGUs may set the travel requirements for visitors.

“More importantly, the DOH maintains that symptom and exposure screening complemented by robust contact tracing remains to be the most effective interzonal border control measures,” it said.

The resolutions are expected to be ironed out and harmonized on Thursday, according to the radio report.

Para maproteksyunan ang ating mamamayan laban sa COVID-19, ginawa po nating RESTRICTED ang Navotas para sa mga babiyahe papunta rito mula sa mga lugar sa labas ng NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, at Laguna). pic.twitter.com/m1pw47vuag

— Navotas City (@Navotas_City) July 7, 2021

 Navotas tightens curbs 

Meanwhile, the City Government of Navotas tightened travel requirements for residents not coming from the National Capital Region, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna.

In an advisory, the LGU said visitors must present a health declaration or medical certificate from the Municipal Health Office of their origin which states that they are not positive, suspect, or probable cases.

Visitors must also present negative RT-PCR test results.

Travelers must also present certification from the barangay of their origin that they are not among the individuals who must undergo quarantine or have completed their required quarantine period.

They must also provide the complete address of their destination in the city.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has reported a total of 1,450,110 COVID-19 cases, of which 1,377,132 have recovered and 25,459 have died. -Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News