MANILA, Philippines — The free COVID-19 swab tests for tourists will be suspended for 10 days, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced yesterday.
In an advisory, the DOT’s Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said it would stop the processing of applications for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR tests for local tourists from Jan. 17 to 27.
The TPB said it would continue accepting applications for free swab test until Jan. 16.
The DOT suspended its swab test subsidy program as the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), which performs the RT-PCR tests lacks encoders and swabbers.
The DOT said the swab test program for tourists would resume on Jan. 28.
For queries, tourists may e-mail the TPB at phtravel_pcmc@tpb.gov.ph or through its Facebook page Tourism Promotions Board Philippines.
The DOT started its swab test program for local tourists in November last year.