The 50% subsidy for COVID-19 RT-PCR testing for qualified domestic tourists has been extended, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat confirmed on Monday (June 28).
She said many have availed of this promotion after the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases lifted the ban on leisure travel from National Capital Region Plus areas to tourist destinations under modified general community quarantine.
The DOT-Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) inked a memorandum of agreement (MoA) regarding the subsidized RT-PCR testing with the PCMC and the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in Manila, to run from January to June 2021.
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday (June 28), Romulo-Puyat said the 50% discount for RT-PCR testing can be availed of at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC).
The original price for the RT-PCR swab test is ₱3,500. From December 2020 to June 23, 2021, about 43,351 individuals have already availed of the subsidy at PCMC.
However, not all applicants were granted the 50% discount promotion.
“Pero siyempre, kunwari nakita namin na naka-book sa isang 5-star hotel na ₱30,000 a night, hindi na namin binibigyan ng subsidy. Pina-prioritize namin ang mga talagang nangangailangan ng subsidy,” Romulo-Puyat said.
The DOT-TPB is set to extend its agreement with PCMC from July 1 to December 31, 2021. The agency is also looking to extend its MoA with UP-PGH until December 2021, but Romulo-Puyat estimates that their subsidy may only last until July to August 2021.
On fake swab results
The DOT is in close coordination with local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police regarding fake swab results.
Romulo-Puyat said the Department of Justice is also “looking into arresting individuals who create fake RT-PCR results.”
“Nire-respeto natin ang mga LGUs [na ayaw mag-bukas for tourism]. Pero kinakausap pa rin natin sila na kung paanong way [sila pwedeng magbukas nang] hindi nako-compromise ang health and safety,” the Tourism secretary said. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio / CF- jlo
