League of Provinces wants COVID-19 tests for travelers upon arrival

The League of Provinces (LPP) is asking the national government to allow COVID-19 testing for travelers at the point of entry of provinces, saying pre-travel testing could be risky.

Interviewed on 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 thumbed down 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.)

He said they want antigen test in provinces without molecular laboratory, RT-PCR test in those that have, and saliva test in provinces with Philippine Red Cross facilities.

Velasco said at present, what has been approved by the IATF is for local government units to have the discretion to impose RT-PCR test prior to travel.

"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 if for us to have authority to impose testing either PCR, saliva test or antigen test at the port of entry, not prior to entry.)

Velasco has earlier said that most local government units are opposed to the removal and easing of several health protocols and requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the recently issued IATF Resolution No. 101, travelers do not need to undergo testing unless required by the LGU prior to travel. It also said only RT-PCR test is allowed. —KBK, GMA News