Mayor proposes ‘free’ Covid testing

CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco said she will ask the support of the City Council to provide a wider coverage of RT-PCR testing in Zamboanga in response to the clamor of the public.

Residents and travellers have urged the local government to provide free or subsidize RT-PCR tests which cost between P2,000 to P5,000. 

“It may not be necessarily a free-for-all grant, but at least with a wider coverage than the present free RT-PCR test given to those with Covid-19 symptoms, suspected and positive cases only,” the mayor said. 

She said her proposal to the City Council for free RT-PCR testing is subject to the availability of test kits and once the local molecular laboratory is approved and becomes operational. 

Climaco said she also ordered the City Health Office and the City Budget Office to come up with the policy in conformity with the guidelines set by the Department of Health and the Red Cross. 

The mayor previously issued an executive order making it mandatory for all travellers - whether they are fully vaccinated or not - entering Zamboanga to present their negative RT-PCR test result following the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant. 

She also ordered a strict border control and implementation of the health protocols in Zamboanga, saying travellers must have negative Covid-19 test results, whether by Saliva RT-PCR tests or nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test, before they enter Zamboanga. 

Climaco also issued Executive Order 651-2021 that mandates all inbound passengers, whether APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) or private individuals, regardless of reason or purpose of entry, including transit travellers to present negative RT-PCR test result within 5 days from date of specimen collection and their valid identification cards before they can enter Zamboanga City.

Many travellers who underwent random RT-PCR tests conducted by health workers at the Zamboanga borders and in sea and air ports had tested positive for the deadly respiratory virus.

The mayor said these are temporary measures designed to curb the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in order to promote the health and safety of the general welfare of the citizens. (Zamboanga Post)