MAYOR BENG Climaco said the local government will continue to require RT-PCR test for people travelling to Zamboanga City as part of a strict health protocols against the spread of the deadly Covid-19 disease.
Climaco said travellers must present a negative Covid test result before they can enter Zamboanga, adding the requirement is in accordance with the new guidelines or the uniform travel protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) under Resolution Number 101.
The new IATF-MEID travel protocols were crafted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the League of Cities of the Philippines.
Although the IATF-MEID said travel authority from and medical certificate are no longer required for land, air and sea travel, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Covid-19 testing shall not be mandatory for domestic travellers, except if the local government will require testing as a requirement prior to travel.
“If the LGU of destination requires a test, it shall only require a Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction or RT-PCR test and no other. Meaning, LGUs cannot require Antigen tests or rapid tests as test requirements prior to travel,” Malaya said.
He advised all travellers to check with the local government of their destination before travelling to ensure a smooth trip.
Malaya also said that under the new protocols, no traveller shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arrival at their destination. “Therefore, the health assessment of passengers or travellers supervised by medical professionals shall be mandatory upon entry in the port or terminal and exit at point of destination,” he said.
Climaco, head of the Zamboanga City Task Force Covid-19, said with the new U.K. and South African Covid variants now in the Philippines, and the increasing number of active cases and deaths in the country, there is really a need to require travellers to undergo RT-PCR test.
“As mayor and mother of the City, my priority concern is to protect the health of my constituents, thus the required RT-PCR test is to protect our people from Covid-19,” she said. “We should not be complacent and strict health protocols must be observed at all times.”
Due to Zamboanga’s strict health protocols, its active cases are a little over 50, although it went down to as low as three dozens.
Lawyer Kenneth Vincent Beldua, a spokesman for the Zamboanga City Task Force Covid-19, echoed Climaco’s concerns, saying, the foremost responsibility of the local government is to its constituents. “The imposition of the RT-PCR testing requirement, which by the way, is authorized by the national government, is an exercise of the LGU's police power for the general welfare of its inhabitants. If we loosen the restrictions here in the City of Zamboanga and the Covid cases will again surge, the people of Zamboanga will only have its officials to blame.”
Beldua noted that most of those who opposed the RT-PCR testing are travellers from other provinces. “Much of the comments I see are not really from residents of Zamboanga, but from our neighbors who may have thought that leisure travels are now the norm. We are responsible for the health of our people, nearly one million and nothing else is more important,” he said.
Climaco also signed Executive Order BC-626 2021 which states that for inbound air, ferry and land passengers who are merely passing through Zamboanga to Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi - the following documentation are needed: Endorsement letter from focal person of Ministry of the Interior and Local Government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to the Zamboanga City Tourism Office, RT-PCR negative test result within 5 days from swabbing, and that the end destination local government must receive their constituents at the entry points or border.
And for Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, the following requirements are also needed: RT-PCR negative test result within 5 days from swabbing, and that the end destination local government must receive their constituents at the entry points or border.
The order also said that for outbound air, ferry and land passengers en route to the airport, they need to present their “confirmed flight ticket.” And for frequent and business travellers, only “frequent travellers pass” shall be required for business owners, or their duly authorized representatives who engage in small, medium and large business enterprise in Zamboanga City. They are also required to undergo RT-PCR test once a month and present the result to the Zamboanga City through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
And for inbound frequent traveller, they need to surrender at least 1 valid government-issued ID at the entry point, and only allowed to stay in Zamboanga City for 3 days and must undergo RT-PCR test if they want to extend their stay. But for outbound frequent traveller, they are allowed 3 days to travel outside Zamboanga City for emergency purpose, business transaction or for any other essential purpose. Should their travel go beyond the 3-day period, they will have to undergo RT-PCR test.
It said that travellers with incomplete documents shall not be allowed entry into Zamboanga City. And those caught illegally entering Zamboanga City shall be fined P5,000 and shall be immediately quarantined pending RT-PCR test all at their own expense.
While travellers with falsified documents shall also be fined P5,000 and shall be immediately quarantined pending RT-PCR test all at their own expense. And those aiding in the entry of any persons with incomplete requirements shall be fined P5,000 for every individual smuggled into Zamboanga City, and the revocation of business permit if they are engaged in the trade or business in Zamboanga City, among others. (Zamboanga Post)
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