For inbound tourists: Cebu City still requires swab

CEBU, Philippines —  Unlike Cebu province, Cebu City will still require a negative RT-PCR test result for travelers to the city, a move that earned the nod of the Department of Health-7 and an official from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in the Visayas.

“What the IATF said (was) all travel requirements are already dispensed with but a local government, insofar as RT-PCR is concerned, has the option to require or no longer require,” Mayor Edgardo Labella told reporters yesterday.

“I just believe that Cebu City, being a hub and…a center, you can just imagine the number of people that disembark from the pier coming from northern Mindanao and other parts of the Visayas. That’s why considering that the local government is given the option to require RT-PCR test, we will still require,” he continued.

Labella said he made the decision after a consultation with fellow officials, as well as regional health authorities.

“Unless, of course, if the IATF would say nga it is no longer required. But for as long as the local government is given the option to require it or not, I would rather that we require, to protect the health of our people in the City of Cebu because it is really a hub... Better careful than sorry later on,” he said.

One of the reasons, the mayor said, why the city should require RT-PCR test result is the high number of active COVID-19 cases.

DOH-7’s Feb. 28 case bulletin showed Cebu City recording 218 additional recoveries, leaving 2,974 active cases, of which 200 are new ones.

No additional deaths were reported on the same day but the city finished February with 40 deaths.

“The timing is not quite good. Had it been the time when we had flattening of the curve, well, of course, maybe that would convince us to dispense with the submission of the RT-PCR test. I hope people from the other islands will understand that we really have to do this to protect our people,” said Labella.

Labella, however, said all other requirements, such as travel authority and health certificates, will no longer be required pursuant to the IATF’s latest guidelines.

He said he will no longer issue an executive order with regard the latest development since his previous EO already requires RT-PCR test results from travelers who wish to enter the city.

On Saturday, Malacañang announced that the IATF approved the uniform travel protocols for local government units.

Under the protocols specified in IATF Resolution No. 101, travelers need not undergo COVID-19 testing, unless required by the LGU prior to travel. Such testing will be RT-PCR test only, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing.

Meanwhile, travelers will no longer be subjected to quarantine, unless they exhibit symptoms at the destination upon arrival.

Roque said the travel authority, which was previously issued by the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, as well as health certificates, will no longer be required.

Those from national government agencies and their attached agencies who are authorized persons outside of residence (APOR), however, need to present their ID, travel order and travel itinerary. They should also be able to pass symptom-screening upon entry and exit.

Feliciano agrees

Labella’s decision drew support from DOH-7 and Visayas IATF implementer retired Major Gen. Melquiades Feliciano.

“Ang protocols are made because of established situations. The EOC of Cebu (City) has data on a daily basis kung unsay actual situation on the ground,” said Feliciano in a virtual presser yesterday.

Feliciano said returning Filipinos and OFWs, as well as tourists from other countries, should not be swabbed anymore since these people have gone through specific requirements and observed protocols before going home or taking vacations.

However, he said that returning residents or those who are locally stranded but wish to return to Cebu City, for example, should still get tested.

“For LSIs or returning residents, kinahanglan gyud silang i-test. (They) need to be tested (because) taas ang prevalence (of infection in) other places,” he said.

Feliciano cited the case of Pagadian City where 11 of the 82 returning residents who were not tested turned out positive for the virus.

“If you do not have a containment method or approach on this, usa ka positive ana, siya na nay source of transmission of the disease,” he added.

'Testing the safest choice'

For DOH-7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, testing remains the safest option.

“I know that we have been changing protocols after protocols, but in the situation that we are in, where numbers are high, it is still safest that we conduct testing,” she said.

She emphasized that this does not apply only for Cebu City, but also for the two other highly-urbanized cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

“Wag nating bulabugin ang mga numbers at tayo’y maging pabaya. Our capability is still there. We will still conduct the testing,” Loreche said.

As regards Cebu province, Loreche said DOH-7 gave a nod to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s executive order scrapping swab testing for inbound travelers since the province will still conduct the so-called syndromic surveillance, which means that those who will exhibit symptoms will be made to undergo testing and isolation.

Also, Cebu province-bound tourists are still required to present a medical certificate issued by a reputable doctor within seven days from the date of their travel.

DOH-7 data showed that Cebu province had 1,407 active cases, including 79 new ones, 98 recoveries, and four more deaths on Feb. 28.

On the same day, Lapu-Lapu had 846 active cases, 41 recoveries, and one new death, while Mandaue had 818 total active cases, 17 more recoveries, and two new deaths. — Caecent N. Magsumbol, JMD (FREEMAN)