Iloilo City scraps negative RT-PCR test result as requirement for incoming travelers

The Iloilo City government no longer requires incoming travelers to present a negative RT-PCR test result, Mayor Jerry Treñas said on Tuesday.

Interviewed on ANC, Treñas said the city government will now provide the COVID-19 test for the travelers upon their arrival.

“Yesterday, we did away with the requirement of a negative RT-PCR for residents coming in or passengers coming in from any other place,” he said.

Treñas said the city government came up with the decision when they found out that RT-PCR tests in some areas like the National Capital Region are expensive and results are released beyond 72 hours.

Due to these, the mayor said some travelers are resorting to fake COVID-19 test results.

“Considering that it was giving added burden to passengers, what we did considering also that the Department of Health continue to give us RT-PCR test, we only require passengers coming to have swab test here in Iloilo for free,” he said.

Meanwhile, Treñas said he signed on Monday an ordinance restricting the mobility of unvaccinated people. It only allows unvaccinated individuals to go out and take public transport for essential purposes.

Aside from this, the mayor said the local government also barred employees and customers who have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccine booster shots from entering the city hall.

“That's one of the measures that we placed in Iloilo City just to encourage people to get boosters,” he said.

According to the Department of Health's COVID-19 tracker, as of Monday, January 24, the total COVID-19 cases recorded in Iloilo City reached 27,738 after 305 new ones were recorded.

Of this number, 4,110 are active; 23,028 recovered; and 600 died. —KG, GMA News