MANILA, Philippines — People from Negros Island and Bohol are required to present a negative swab test result when entering the province of Cebu.
Under an executive order issued by Cebu. Gov. Gwen Garcia, the RT-PCR or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test should be taken 72 hours before travelers leave their points of origin.
Travelers may opt to present a negative rapid antigen test result instead of the RT-PCR test, provided the antigen test was taken 48 hours before their departure for Cebu.
The order will take effect for 11 days starting today.
Garcia said personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) would conduct rapid antigen tests in all ports of origin for people traveling to Cebu.
Personnel from the Philippine Ports Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard will assist in screening travelers bound for Cebu, she said.
In issuing the order, Garcia cited the rise in COVID cases in Negros Oriental.
The decision to heighten the restriction was concurred in by the DOH and the Department of the Interior and Local Government as well as by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Garcia said.
Sea vessels from the cities of Escalante and San Carlos, both in Negros Occidental, enter Cebu through the ports of Tabuelan and Toledo.